DETAIL Of Delhi field force. 215 ENGINEERS. Lieut.-Col. Baird Smith, Chief Engineer. Troops-Three Companies (or thereabouts) Sappers. One thousand Pioneers (not armed or disciplined). CAVALRY BRIGADE. Brigadier Hope Grant, 9th Lancers, Commanding. 9th Lancers. Two Troops 1st Punjab Cavalry. Hodson's 'Sikh Horse.' 1ST INFANTRY BRIGADE. Brigadier Showers, 2nd Fusiliers, Commanding. 2nd Fusiliers. Kemaon Battalion. 2ND INFANTRY BRIGADE. Brigadier Longfield, 8th Foot, Commanding Troops-52nd Light Infantry. 60th Rifles (Six Companies). 3RD INFANTRY BRIGADE. Brigadier Jones, 61st Foot, Commanding. Rothney's Sikhs. 216 ALL QUIET IN CAMP. 4TH INFANTRY BRIGADE. Brigadier Nicholson, 27th N. I., Commanding. Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife. CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Tuesday, 18th August. The Queen's officers are the only people in camp who are irate, I fancy, at Nicholson's being appointed Brigadier. The general opinion is that it would have been hard to pass him over after the service he had done in the Punjab, and even Greathed, who is a great stickler for his order, spoke very sensibly to me about it, and seemed to think it was all right now that the 52nd has been removed from Nicholson's command; and I believe there is some arrangement by which Colonels Dennis and Campbell of the 52nd are made Brigadiers, but without brigades, so as to prevent their coming under Nicholson's command.* Not a word of news in camp to-day from any quarter, and all is as quiet as possible, scarcely a gun firing except at very long intervals. Young Harry Chester was here just now, and spoke of a battery that was being commenced by the enemy on the right flank; it cannot, however, be of much importance, or we should have heard of it here long ago. But no apprehensions appear to be entertained in camp now of the scoundrels attempting to do much again in the way of attacking our position, and we shall do nothing, I think, in the way of attacking them either until the siege-train reaches us. There was a letter from Hodson again last night; he was all right, near Rohtuck, and had fallen in with no more of the insurgents. It seems that the party he was after had gone on towards Hansi, where they would most likely fall in with Van Cortlandt's force. It appears that both the Goughs are out with * Campbell and Dennis were not made Brigadiers; the report must have been a camp canard.-H. W. NORMAN. LETTER FROM SEALKOTE. 217 the expedition, one with a party of the Guides and the other with Hodson's own Cavalry. You will be glad to hear that Goolab Sing's son and heir, Runbar Sing, has decided on following in the steps of his father and proving our faithful ally and friend. I send you a letter that I received this morning from Drake on the subject; and the Brigadier (Wilson) told me at breakfast that he had heard from John Lawrence to the same effect. This is very satisfactory, and, I hope, ensures the entire peace and safety of the Punjab. Did I tell you that Peake & Allen have sent down their representative here with lots of stores? There are two Parsee merchants also in camp, Jehangeer and Cowasjee, with lots of supplies, particularly beer, brandy, and soda-water. Beer they wanted twenty-four rupees a dozen for at first; but they came down to fifteen rupees for their best English bottled, and the Head-Quarters' mess took a hundred dozen from them at this price. They will get a good profit on it, and I believe they have some two thousand dozen altogether, which is pretty sure to be all sold. The mess have also got a barrel of commissariat beer, which is said to be first rate, and it is to be tapped in a day or two; so you see we are not badly off. Mactier sends kindest regards to you. We have been talking of Loch Katrine and other pretty places that we are to visit when we go home! More than half-past three o'clock, and no more news to give you. Our not hearing direct from Cawnpore is accounted for, it is said, by a small rebel force being on the road that prevents the cossids coming that way. Major DRAKE to Colonel KEITH YOUNG. SEALKOTE, 14th August. MY DEAR COLONEL-The Jummoo man, Runbar Sing, appears inclined to follow his father's steps. It is said that Goolab Sing impressed upon him strongly the necessity of continuing his alliance with us if he wished to retain his rule. His troops are steadily advancing towards you; but the General was obliged to have recourse to a ruse to get his men on. He heard of Goolab's death while his force still was in the Jummoo 218 NO DIRECT NEWS FROM CAWNPORE. territory. On reaching his ground a messenger ran up breathless; the letter he brought was opened, and the news of the Maharajah's death made known. Many were for going back; it was too late the force was in the Company's territory, its faith pledged to advance, and so they went on a march or two more slowly. When the General gave out that John Lawrence was highly irate at their tardy movements, and had in consequence imprisoned his (the General's) brother, it had the desired effect of increasing their pace. This is the story sent in from their camp. An express arrived from Jummoo on the night of the 12th saying that they required fifty camels, as fifty camelloads of treasure were ready for our acceptance. The camels went off last night. This is considered only the first instalment of the Jummoo loan. It is rumoured at Lahore that Sir Henry Lawrence is not dead, only wounded: that his brother, Sir John, has received this news. I wish I could believe it. I heard from Macpherson yesterday; had any such good news been received he would not have omitted to mention it. We are to have two Rissalahs of 2nd Irregular Cavalry from Gondeepore here soon; we would much rather be without them, but the regiment is suspected. John Lawrence wants to disperse the men, and he therefore sends us a batch. To give the fellows their due they behaved well in keeping the 46th from a ford, and afterwards aided in cutting up some of the 26th, in which last business they suffered.-Yours sincerely, J. DRAKE. (Diary) 18th August.-Took a ride this morning towards the powder magazine, on the bank of the river; very steamy and warm. At work all day writing. Very strange no news direct from Cawnpore; have heard of date 3rd, via Agra, but no word of any further fight. The band of Green's Sikh corps plays in the evening. Ride down in the evening to see Showers, and find him sitting outside his tent. CHAPTER X. SIEGE OF DELHI-continued. Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife. CAMP, DELHI Cantonments, Wednesday, 19th August. The dâk came in, as it usually does now, during the night, and I received your letter of the 16th in time to read it over my tea. Dr Scott brought it from the post-office for me; he always comes over here, sometimes as early as five o'clock, for his cup of tea, and when the dâk has not been delivered goes to the postoffice for our letters while the tea is being made. That is very nice tea you sent down to me, only the servant used to put too much into the teapot. We have now limited him to two teaspoonfuls, which is quite enough, we find. I shall not require any more, for when mine is done, which it will not be for some time yet, Mactier has a large box of the same kind of tea which we are to commence upon. There is another letter from Havelock, a copy of which has been sent down by Mr Colvin to Greathed. Mr Colvin's letter is dated the 13th, but, strangely enough, Havelock's is not only not dated but contains no date in it whatever. It is mainly a recapitulation of what had reached us before of his having beaten the enemy between Cawnpore and Lucknow at a place called Oonao, and also at Busharuttgunge, some twelve miles from Cawnpore; he mentions taking nineteen guns on this occasion, and says he had taken forty-four from the Nana before. He had run short of ammunition, and, having got a supply from Cawnpore, was then advancing to Lucknow, after |