honestly thinking that he was commissioned to convert them.— Quite a private funeral in the burial-ground in the evening, Chester reading the service.

CAMP, KURNAUL, Thursday, 28th May (8 A.M.).

All well here, and were my traps up I should be as comfortable as possible that is to say, as comfortable as one can be with the third or fourth of a room which is full of visitors the whole day long, from the General (Sir Henry Barnard) downwards. You would be very much amused to see our arrangements: but we all keep our health, which is everything; and as to Chester, he is infinitely better than I have seen him since his return from England. He is out and out the best officer with the army, and works like a horse. He and Norman and Becher do everything. As to Congreve, he appears to have nothing whatever to do, and passes most of his time lying on his bed smoking.

I shall be very glad to get my things, if only for the decent writing materials, as it is quite a task writing with this scratchy pen and bad ink, for which I am indebted to Norman !

We all attended poor General Anson's funeral last night, Chester reading the service.

You remember the dâk-bungalow we stayed at here on our way up to Simla, and the little mice that were running about the rooms-there are several in this room, and as tame as ever. All the 75th officers are in this bungalow, and a host of others besides.

Tell Mr Philipe I will write to him in a day or two when I can see my way a little clearer. I think we shall stay here a couple of days or so longer, and then move on to Paniput. All the news we get is good, and no doubt is entertained of our soon putting matters to right at Delhi.

Arthur Becher sends his love, and says you might have put up a bottle of curaçao for him!

I forgot to tell you that Charlie Hall and Mrs Martin are expected here to-day, and are to go on to Simla. If Mrs Poulton does not come you might offer rooms to them. Major Martin

is here.

(Diary) 28th May.-No troops yet getting anxious about them. Very hot in the daytime. We are at the dâk-bungalow,

28

WAITING FOR THE SIEGE-TRAIN.

Chester, Norman, and myself in one room; the others equally full, except Congreve, who has a large one to himself. He is anything but well or comfortable apparently. Delightful to get a decent night's rest. Her Majesty's 75th officers keep us awake for some hours singing; they seem a jolly set.

CAMP, KURNAUL, Friday, 29th May (8† A.M.). I was made very happy last night by the receipt of yours of Monday and Tuesday, the 25th and 26th, and I quite hope now to hear pretty regularly from you, though the Simla post does not appear very much to be depended upon, and you must not be anxious if you occasionally don't hear from me. There is not, so far as I can judge, the least possible cause for any further alarm. As to our putting down the rebellion when we advance, there is not the shadow of a doubt; in fact, it is not truly a rebellion, but merely a gathering of the disaffected Sepoys, the people of the country not being at all with them. It is a pity we cannot advance at once; but now the siege-train is so near it is not considered politic to go on without it. We expect it will be sufficiently near to allow of our moving on to-morrow evening.

I wish you could look in upon us here, and you would be much amused at the happy appearance of the party occupying the dâkbungalow. In the centre rooms are all the officers of the 75th, who amuse us in the evening singing glees, which they do very well. The costumes that we all wear are diverting enough; scarcely any one thinks of dressing in proper style, unless General Barnard, who, compared to all of us, looks as if he had jumped out of a band box. Curzon and Lowe and Mactier are staying with him in General Palmer's house; the two former are very much cut up at General Anson's death. If Pat Grant* comes round here as Commander-in-Chief, very likely Mactier will remain as his surgeon. Brigadier Hallifax started last night for Paniput to join his brigade, and looked in upon us on his way out. He seems

to be now in excellent health.

My things have not arrived yet; I fear Maisey has detained them to bring on with him, so I must not expect them until to-morrow morning. It is of no great consequence, however, as Norman has a dhobie who washes for me sharp. Don't trouble

* General Sir Patrick Grant, Commander-in-Chief at Madras.

THE 'ARMY OF RETRIBUTION"

29

to stamp your letters to me; no postage is collected here. I wish my writing-things would come; I can with difficulty write with Chester's paper and pens, and the punkah blows everything about in a most uncomfortable manner.

How is Mrs Daly? Her husband is a first-rate officer,* and will be at Delhi almost before us.

(Diary) 29th May.-Things in at last, after breakfast; just as well, as we start to-morrow. A grand panic in the bungalow. Some one, I believe, cried out in his sleep-nightmare, I fancyand all rushed out, half-asleep and half-awake, with pistols, guns, swords, &c.; it was an absurd scene. Troops moving in now; 60th Native Infantry gone to Rohtuck to get them out of the way. Walk to canal this evening.

CAMP, KURNAUL, Saturday, 30th May.

I have made a rough sketch of the composition and movements of the Army of Retribution, and you can show it to Mr Philipe or any one you like; though I dare say there will be a much more complete account of the force in the Lahore Chronicle.

Rough Sketch of the Composition and Movements of the
ARMY of RETRIBUTION.

1ST BRIGADE.-Brigadier Hallifax, Brigade-Major Simpson: 1st Fusiliers, Money's troop Horse Artillery, and three squadrons 9th Lancers one march beyond Paniput. The 60th Native Infantry two marches beyond Paniput, on the road to Rohtuck.

2ND BRIGADE. - Brigadier Graves, Brigade-Major Nicoll: Her Majesty's 75th, with Head-Quarters of the 4th Irregular Cavalry, march to-night towards Paniput, and will be joined. to-morrow by Turner's troop Horse Artillery one squadron, and Head-Quarters' 9th Lancers. The 2nd Fusiliers and one squadron of the 4th Native Cavalry Lancers coming on with the siege-train, which ought to be at Piplee to-night or to-morrow morning. The rest of the 4th Cavalry have been detached to Moozafernugar and other places.

* The late General Sir Henry Daly, G.C.B.

H

30

LETTERS From meerUT.

In addition to the above are some Native contingent Horse in advance with Lieutenants Hodson and McAndrew, and some with the siege-train under Native commandants. The whole of the above Force will concentrate some two marches from Delhi, and then be joined by Brigadier Wilson, now at GhazeeoodeenNugar, who will cross the Jumna at the Bhagput bridge of boats (which has been put in excellent order) with his Column from Meerut, consisting of a wing of the Rifles, ditto Carabineers, one troop Horse Artillery, one company Artillery with heavy guns, and some Sappers part of the Sirmoor battalion and some Irregular Cavalry taking his place at Ghazeeoodeen-Nugar. Colonel Hope Grant commands the Cavalry of the Force, but he has only with him, as stated, one squadron of the 9th Lancers. Colonel Mowatt commands the Artillery; Major Laughton, Chief Engineer; and Dr Tritton, Superintending Surgeon. It is expected that if all goes right we shall be at Delhi on the 8th June, or at latest the 9th.

Letters this instant in from Meerut of the 28th and 29th. All well at Meerut and with Brigadier Wilson's Force; and all the news good except that some eighty Rampore Horse had joined the insurgents. Major Reid,* commanding the Sirmoor battalion, was at Bolandshur, and his little Goorkhas were doing excellent service. A newsletter also in says that the insurgents are quarrelling together at Delhi, and that the large majority of the Sappers and the Artillery are quite ready to desert them on our reaching Delhi.

One of the letters that came to-day had an enclosure, copied by Harriot, and signed by him in his usual neat hand; he is at Meerut with General Hewitt. Poor Mr Johnson, the civilian there, a friend of the Chesters, who escaped the massacre at Meerut, died from a fall from his horse; Captain Garstin had a letter to-day mentioning this. Another letter received to-day says that there are several prisoners, fugitives from Delhi, at a village called Belaspore, close to where Brigadier Wilson is to be to-day, and he will of course have them released at once. I do hope poor Mrs Galloway's husband may be with them, but I fear there is little hope. Every one I have seen from Delhi says it is impossible he could have escaped. Metcalfe,

*The late General Sir Charles Reid, G. C.B.

ESCAPE OF SIR THEOPHILUS Metcalfe.

31

to whom I spoke when he was here, said Galloway was in the city when the 3rd Cavalry arrived. Metcalfe himself had a most narrow escape, having been three days concealed within a mile of Delhi.* Mr Thomason is also here, and Mr Le Bas, who escaped. Metcalfe has gone on to Paniput with the advanced force to render assistance to the military.

A Sepoy was caught here yesterday with lots of plundered rupees, &c., on him, and a silver mug, belonging, it is believed, to Mr Le Bas. I fear, when we get beyond Paniput, it will be found necessary to utterly destroy some six of the villages which are said to have harboured plunderers and ill-treated the fugitives. Little mercy will be shown any villages in which this can be proved. I made out a proclamation yesterday at the request of General Barnard, which has been translated and circulated, stating that all offending villages will be destroyed.

You never saw such a busy scene as is going on in the room we occupy-Chester, Norman, Maisey, and myself are sitting round the table writing, and every ten minutes or so comes in a telegraphic message or despatch of some kind or other, which brings in Becher and Congreve to hear the news. The telegraph is invaluable. The signalling apparatus goes on with us this afternoon, and will be set up at our new halting-place, Guraunda, so that when we arrive at our ground we shall know at once what is going on at Umballa.

It was awkward having to disband the men of the 5th Native Infantry yesterday, though nothing much is thought of this, or of the misconduct of the men of the detachment at Rampore yesterday. All will most likely soon get their deserts; and as for Simla, now that the Nusserees have marched quietly to Saharunpore and their brother Goorkhas are all behaving so well, you need be under no further alarmı of disturbances in the hills.

All our party are very well except Congreve, who groans away. There is no sickness here, but at Piplee Colonel Mowatt is reported very ill. Chester is very jolly, and drinks his beer daily; he sends his kind love. I don't know what means by saying Chester and Becher have lost their heads. Chester is the best man in camp, and has come out wonderfully;

* See Appendix B.