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HEAVY LOSSES OF ENEMY.

amount to one hundred and thirteen; of these, however, I know a great many were very slightly wounded. I saw myself an officer who was returned as wounded driving about in a buggy in the evening. That poor lad Sheriff is still alive, but in an almost hopeless state; the wound is in the head, and part of the brain has been carried away. Instances are known of men recovering even from such injuries, but they are very rare.

I am amused at Mrs Hall's account of cases of Lieutenant Browne

and Lieutenant Temple, as given by her husband. My version was the correct one, and could not be wrong, as I had heard all particulars from Dr Tritton, who had been up to see the wounded men. I met George Hall this morning, and asked him how he came to write as he did-that one man had had his head taken off and the other his leg by the same roundshot! George said it was very stupid of him, as he was told they were walking together at the time, and if he had thought of it for an instant he would have seen the absurdity of the same shot hitting one in the head and the other in the leg! The truth, I believe, was, as regards the unfortunate man Browne, that he brought his death entirely on himself by standing in one of the embrasures, against the frequent remonstrances of those in the battery with him.

The newsletter from the city mentions the loss of the enemy yesterday morning at five hundred killed, and lots of wounded also ; the sight of the latter limping into the city must have a very disheartening effect upon the other scoundrels there.

I was glad to hear that a bheestie yesterday got a purse from one of the men who was killed containing fifty-five gold mohurs (nearly nine hundred rupees, or, according to the present value of gold mohurs, much more). They are excellent servants the bheesties, and several of them have been killed and wounded taking up water to our men in the batteries and at the pickets.

We are certainly very fortunate in our weather. It has been threatening rain for some days, but none has come down; and though the sun is rather hot, there is a nice cool breeze blowing. I went over this morning to see Waters of the Rifles, who wrote a curious note to me a little while ago to say that he had been wounded (a slight wound in the foot, two or three days ago), that he was engaged to be married, and was anxious for a Brigade

'WHEN WILL WE BE IN DELHI?'

201

Majorship, which he trusted to me to get for him! From Waters' tent, after explaining to him that he must not look to me for a Brigade Majorship, I went and paid Sir Edward Campbell a visit ; he seems more cheerful and jolly than he used to be up at Simla.

Mr Greathed has had letters from Agra, of the 7th, where all was well, and no mention of the mutineers from Gwalior leaving that place. They had news from Cawnpore, of the 1st August, confirming the account of Havelock's victory and of his taking twenty guns; and reinforcements had been sent out to him, and on their reaching he was to move on to Lucknow. As I told you, the Native news is that he did move on, and that Lucknow had been sacked by our troops. There is a rumour, too, that the three Native regiments at Dinapore had decamped with their arms; General Lloyd was after them.

The 8th band played in the Head-Quarters' Camp yesterday evening, and the street was crowded with 'fashionables!'

(Diary) 13th August.-Firing going on during the night, and heavy cannonading all day, but no damage done, or very little. Paid a visit or two in the Rifle lines to-day, and then do writing. Write to Frere.

CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Friday, 14th August.

I was speaking to Hodson yesterday on the subject of Goolab Sing's death, and it is his opinion that no bad effect to us is likely to arise from it. Formerly the son and heir, by name Runbar Sing, was known to be inimical to our rule, but it is said he has grown wiser now; but, whether or not, he will have more than sufficient to employ him in his own country to think of making any attempt to trouble us.

I don't think you need be under any apprehension of matters going wrong amongst the hill tribes about Simla in consequence of anything that may occur at Cashmere, and when we are once inside Delhi all will soon quiet down. But you say, When will this be? I am not in the secret, and I fancy, indeed, that the General himself and those he consults have not yet positively settled whether we are to attack the place at once, now that Nicholson's Column has arrived, or wait for Havelock. I dare say the question will most likely be decided by circumstances, and

202

ARRIVAL OF NICHOLSON'S COLUMN.

by the intelligence we may receive from the city after it is known that they have heard of our reinforcements having come in; they appear last night to have been in a state of great alarm that we were going to attack the city.

There was a tremendous fire of musketry from the walls twice : first about ten o'clock, just as I was reading your letter; and then again at one o'clock this morning, when I was awoke by it and by Becher calling out to his servants to know what o'clock it was. They fired away their ammunition to very little purpose, as, of course, none of our men were within shot.

I went out to see the troops come in this morning, and a very pretty cheering sight it was-about twelve hundred European Infantry (Her Majesty's 52nd, and wing 61st), and the same of Sikhs (Green's corps, a very fine regiment), and a wing of the new levies, with some Cavalry and a Horse battery. There was a large convoy, too, with five heavy guns, lots of ammunition and powder, and several lacs of treasure. It cannot be very consoling to the people in the city to hear of these fresh arrivals for us, especially as they had been expecting troops themselves from the Punjab, which they are certainly not very likely to get now.

Do you know I am very much inclined to think after all that the old 50th has remained staunch, for I see that a Calcutta government notification of the 9th July says that all was well at Nagode on that date, and the regiment that was said to have crossed at Kalpi was the 42nd Native Infantry, which is reported to have gone to Futtyghur. How proud old Joe Hampton will be if the regiment does actually prove faithful! Norman, too, is delighted to find that his regiment, the 31st, at Saugar, so far as we know, is behaving well, except a small detachment of it.

Nothing to-day of Havelock; but I forgot to tell you that the letter yesterday said that when he had relieved Lucknow he was to be joined by two thousand five hundred Goorkhas that were on the other side of the Gagra River waiting for him. Their joining him, however, would be the work of some days, and I fear we must not expect to see Havelock here before the end of the month, if we are to wait for him.

We could not be more fortunate than we are in our weather to-day it is most pleasant-cloudy, with a cool breeze; and, now that Nicholson's force is comfortably housed in camp, a good

HAVELOCK'S ORDER TO HIS MEN.

fall of rain-which we unwelcome.

203

seem very likely to have-will not be

I forgot to notice Mrs Nicoll's amusing account of the sketch of Delhi that Arthur did with his left hand,' which of course was not the case. I thought it had been done by Maisey, but I asked Becher, who was much amused to hear what Mrs Nicoll said, and told me the plan was drawn in the office.

I have just seen the city newsletter of to-day; it contains, amongst other items, an account of the number of mutineers there are in the city, and the whole do not amount to more than about seventeen thousand, of which between three and four thousand are Cavalry. I dare say that this is somewhat near the mark, as the number of light guns is also given, and this is correct. The letter says the King wants the Sepoys to try and make their peace with the British, but they reply that there is no hope for them, and that they must either conquer or die; and the letter goes on to say that the King ordered his elephants with the intention of going into the British camp himself, but the Sepoys would not let him.

Some of the new percussion-caps that they have been making in the city were brought into our camp this morning. They are very well made indeed, but the detonating powder is wanting in them, and this, the letter says, they have in vain tried to manufacture.

I forgot to tell you that we tried some of the apricot jelly yesterday, and again this morning at breakfast, and it is most highly approved of by my next neighbours as well as myself. Becher, Hodson, and others also have had some of it. It is indeed particularly nice, and so all say. As large as the stock is, we shall get through it in time.

Mactier,

3.30 P.M., and all has been quiet to-day except a little firing from big guns. That poor young Sheriff is still alive. who is lying down reading a novel, sends his kindest regards.

Here is a copy of Havelock's order to his men after his first victory :

Movable Column-Morning Order.

FUTTEHPORE, 13th July.

Brigadier-General Havelock, C.B., thanks his soldiers for their arduous exertions of yesterday, which produced in four hours the

204

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN EDEN.

strange result of a whole army driven from a strong position, eleven guns captured, and their whole force scattered to the winds without the loss of a British soldier!

To what is this astonishing effect to be attributed? To the fire of the British Artillery exceeding in rapidity and precision all that the Brigadier-General has ever witnessed in his not short career; to the force of the Enfield rifles in British hands; to British pluck, that good quality which has survived the revolution of the hour; and to the blessing of Almighty God in a most righteous cause, the cause of justice, humanity, truth, and good government in India.

(Diary) 14th August.-Heavy musketry firing last night about eleven, and again at one this morning. It seems it was principally from the walls of the city, and they must have fancied themselves attacked. Nicholson's Column came in this morning-about two thousand four hundred Infantry, six guns, and some Cavalry; went to see them march in. Green's Sikh corps very fine men. Quiet to-day. In the evening rode to see Coke, who was slightly wounded on the 13th.

Captain EDEN to Colonel KEITH YOUNG.

CAMP, GOVINDGHUR, 14th August. MY DEAR COLONEL KEITH YOUNG,-I have been compelled to relinquish my position on the road between Delhi and Agra, and am en route to Jeypore with this chivalrous army. I have done my best, and held together under many difficulties, and indeed the force is still entire; but this approach of the Neemuch mutineers who are at Muttra (?) was the signal for an ignominious retreat, or flank march, and my pusillanimous Commander-inChief took care it should be in this direction, wherever it was. I had no hope of ever getting back to Gwalior; and as the temper of the men is by no means improved, and they were exposed to this severe weather, attacked by cholera, and I had no money, my best plan manifestly was to take them back to their own place. Howbeit, I believe the want of pluck is more with the officers than men; but with regard to the latter also it was very necessary to be on the qui vive, and, all things considered, it was