150

HODSON TO COMMAND A CAVALRY CORPS.

where the European force is that is coming up here. One portion of it, Mr Colvin himself says, consisting of three or four regiments, was at Futtehpore on the 4th July; and then again the cossids who brought the letters, and whom I questioned myself, said that two regiments and a Sikh corps were only two marches from Agra, and that there were three more a short way behind them; and then Meerut letters received this morning say that six European regiments had reached Cawnpore about the 8th. The real truth we shall probably learn in a day or two; and that there is a large force on the way somewhere seems quite clear. As to any number of mutineers stopping them, it is altogether out of the question; but there is not likely to be any large force for them to come into collision with. The Gwalior people, as I told you, are remaining quietly at Gwalior.

Has Mrs Becher mentioned to you that Arther Becher has written to Sir John Lawrence, through his military secretary, about disarming effectually the people at Simla? I wrote the letter, and Becher signed it. I don't think Sir John can fail to give some stringent orders on the subject; but say nothing of the matter unless you hear of it elsewhere.

I saw Colonel Greathed this morning looking very well, also Sandy Robertson; they live together. Young Anson goes up to Simla, leaving this evening by mail-cart; he is going, he says, to look after some of his uncle's property, and hopes to be back here in a week. He has promised to call and tell you how anxious we all are to get away on sick certificate; but Mactier we find inexorable! Octavius Hamilton is going away sick to join Mrs Hamilton at Mussoorie; I fancy he is very tired of it, and, for the matter of that, perhaps we all are a little. Hodson has given up the command of the Guides, having got a Cavalry corps of his own now to get into order; he is indeed a good officer.

All is as quiet as if we were at Simla; and it is very nice and cool at present-but plenty of flies. Thanks for the jams, &c., you are sending; but don't send too many. A tin or two of herrings, Mactier says, will be acceptable.

(Diary) 24th July.-Very cool morning, and drizzling rain all day. Go and pay a morning visit to Greathed; nothing doing in

NICHOLSON LEAVES UMRITSUR TO JOIN US. 151

camp. Curious case of settling law-a European soldier is to be tried for murder; the General, having no warrant, decides to proceed under Article 144-martial law, in fact. Dine at the Artillery mess as usual.

CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Saturday, 25th July.

There has been nothing at all going on in camp since my last letter, the city scoundrels being as quiet as possible; and we shall trouble them very little, unless they trouble us, until our reinforcements arrive.

We are still without any authentic accounts of General Wheeler, but reports have come in from so many quarters of his having met with disaster that I fear it must be the case; but not, I think and hope, to the extent that some anticipate. Whatever has, however, happened to him, there seems no doubt that Cawnpore is in our hands again, and that Futtyghur also is safe.

What seems thought here as not improbable is that Sir Henry Lawrence will abandon Lucknow, and that we shall confine ourselves altogether to the right bank of the Ganges, holding Cawnpore, and pushing up as many troops as can be spared to Delhi; and then when that is taken the whole army will be available to settle all the disturbed districts, and reconquer Oude and Rohilkund. Should, however, unforeseen circumstances arise to delay the troops down below, there is a large force coming down from the Punjab, so that we shall be quite strong enough with the troops we have here to set to work to take Delhi properly.

The reinforcements that are coming from the Punjab must be close upon five thousand men,* including a regiment and a half of Europeans (Her Majesty's 52nd, and wing 61st), equal altogether very nearly to what we have here now. Nicholson was to leave Umritsur yesterday, and we cannot expect to have all here much before the middle of next month-a long time to look forward; but it is as well to wait, rather than run any risk.

Arthur Becher's arm is getting on very well, but it will be some weeks yet, I should think, before he will be able to get on horseback again.

* This estimate is nearly two thousand in excess of all the reinforcements that came.-H. W. NORMAN.

152

THE ENEMY DO NOT CARE TO FIGHT IN RAIN.

Yes, I must make an effort to come up to Simla in October, and I look forward to be able to manage it somehow or other. As the time approaches I shall be able to see my way better. We ought soon to hear something of General Grant, who must, I should think, decide upon coming up country when he hears how matters are progressing.

I see Dr Mackinnon nearly every day now; he assists Mactier in attending upon Chamberlain, and generally comes at least once a day. He is looking very well, though not quite so spruce as he used to do at Meerut. He rides on horseback now instead of in a buggy; but there are plenty of buggies in camp, and Dr Tritton, who is acting as Superintending Surgeon, always drives about in one to pay his visits to the hospitals.

Why didn't you tell the old khansamah that I would send his letter enclosed with mine to Harriott when writing to him? This is the only way to ensure any Native letter reaching its destination. His last one I merely addressed to Harriott's care, and hence, probably, the cause of no reply coming.

(Diary) 25th July.-Commenced raining soon after daybreak, and scarcely left off all day. Nothing stirring in camp again to-day, and the enemy uncommonly quiet-plotting some mischief, I suppose, the scoundrels! They talk of attacking us in rear again. The dâk in earlier to-day.

CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Sunday, 26th July. Nothing going on here since I wrote yesterday-the enemy perfectly quiet, and we the same, attributable in some measure, perhaps, to there having been drizzling rain all day. The sun has now come out (2 P.M.); but there is no appearance or talk of the mutineers showing themselves. The newsletter of this morning says they talk of postponing their attack till the Eed (the 2nd or 3rd of August); and I am sure I hope they may, as they are just as likely on that day to have a row amongst themselves-the Mahomedans and Hindoos-as to which party shall come and attack us.

No authentic news yet of Havelock's movements; but I fear we must give up the idea of his joining us in any reasonable time, if there is any truth in the reports of the Cawnpore and Futtyghur

A 'CHEERY' DEVICE FOR THE ASSAULT.

153

disasters for the same story is now told of Futtyghur as of Cawnpore, that after holding out for some time our people took to boats, and were nearly all murdered. We can only pray that in both cases the rumours may prove incorrect: a very few days must relieve us from all uncertainty. It is fortunate that they are able to spare so large a force for us from the Punjab; it will nearly double our strength.

Who was it told you that Sir John Lawrence could not afford to send any more men to our assistance? I am afraid there are some croakers who write from camp.

Not a word of the Saugar brigade for some time, but by the latest accounts they were said to be all right, and showing no signs of mutiny; I trust they may continue so, but it is hardly to be expected. I hope at any rate, if there is any rising, that 'long Jack' (a Sepoy) will give the Hamptons good warning, and take care of them.

The King will be rather astonished when he hears the result of the Jhelum and Sealkote mutinies. The newsletter to-day says he was expecting several regiments from the Punjab, and had given orders that they were to destroy all Europeans on their way to Delhi.

Tell Mrs Hall I have mentioned her proposal to provide the troops with cherry-coloured ribbons for the day of the assault. It is agreed that it would be a very pretty device; and some one remarked that it would make them very 'cheery'! I doubt your getting sufficient of the material, so some might wear a red geranium, or you might cut up the velvet archery jackets for the occasion; but, in fact, it is only the Cavalry that will require any distinguishing mark, the Sikhs and Goorkhas (we have no other Native Infantry) being an entirely different-looking set of people from the Poorbeahs or the Pandies, as they are always called here.

Saunders, of the Civil Service, left here this morning; he was asking me about you. He goes first to Kurnaul, and is to have a kind of charge of all the Cavalry between this and there, and to look after the Jheend Raja's troops. Captain McAndrew, who had charge of them, has been superseded, chiefly, I believe, on account of that Bhagput bridge affair, and he is succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dunsford, 59th Native Infantry.

154 NEWS OF INSURGENTS' DEFEAT AT FUTTEHPORE.

Telegraphic Message from Captain NORMAN to E. C. BARNES.

26th July.

Accounts received from Agra of the total defeat of insurgents under the Nana Sahib at Futtehpore, on the 12th instant. Our troops are said to have taken his twelve guns and seven lacs of treasure.

Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife.

CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Monday, 27th July. Thank Major Goad for the offer of his revolver, but I do not want it. I have a brace of double-barrelled pistols, which, I think, are preferable to a revolver, for these latter have rather a trick of going off when you don't want them and of not going off when you do. Barchard, here on General Wilson's staff, shot his horse three or four days ago by his revolver accidentally going offthe horse, rather a valuable one, the veterinary-surgeon said could not live.

All quiet here, and no symptoms of the mutineers venturing another attack.

I suppose you have heard of Sir J. Lawrence's news of General Grant being at Cawnpore on the 11th July with six regiments; but this must be a mistake. There is news, however, in from Agra, of the 20th, that a battle was fought some forty miles from Cawnpore by the force coming up, probably under Havelock, on the 11th, and that he had gained a complete victory over the chief (Nana) opposed to him, taking eleven guns, seven lacs of treasure, and all the camp equipage of the enemy, whom he was pursuing towards Cawnpore. They seem to have no doubt at Agra of the truth of the accounts that have reached them; and what confirmed them in it was that the Gwalior Raja had written to congratulate the Lieutenant-Governor on the victory, and to assure him that he was keeping the contingent of mutineers all safe at Gwalior. Probably we shall get further intelligence on the matter in the course of the day, but the news of the victory is fully believed here, though it may not be accurate in details; and it tallies, too, with what we hear from the city, where it has been strongly reported for some days that the Nana had been beaten. This