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 alarm 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. 32 MARCH TO GURAUNDA. and though there has been great delay in advancing and much vacillation, the former was unavoidable for want of carriage, and for the latter he is not, so far as I can judge, to blame. He and Becher had a grand row yesterday about the siegetrain having been left without any European guard. It was a great mistake sending on the Europeans, and had the Goorkhas attacked the train yesterday it might have been serious. He is a real good fellow, Arthur Becher, and we all like him much, but he is too easily excited. I do not think Chester and he will fall out again. (Diary) 30th May.-March this evening about five o'clock to Guraunda Terrible confusion; no tents or anything up for a long time. Ride with Mactier, and come on with General's party. CAMP, GURAUNDA, Whitsunday, 31st May (1 P.M.). We arrived here last night about eleven o'clock. We have at present the advantage of having the electric telegraph working in the camp; two or three men belonging to the department came on with us, and in the course of an hour or two a tent is pitched close to the wires and a repeating station formed. Mactier and I went into the tent early this morning, and at our request a message was telegraphed to Umballa to ask if all was right; in a minute the answer came, 'Yes, all right here.' They can't telegraph down towards Delhi; but it's everything if they can continue telegraphing upwards, as at present. We had rather an unpleasant night of it last night, every one's tent and every one's traps being behind. The General gave us all some tea. At last, about 2 A.M., I was able to turn into bed comfortably, having bought a light little charpoy at Kurnaul. All the servants are behaving very well; and Soobhan (chuprassie), who gave me a deal of trouble on the road down, having stayed behind at Kussowlie without leave, is now making himself useful in every way and doing all he can to regain his lost character. Frank Turner's troop Horse Artillery and a squadron 9th Lancers came in this morning, and we all, including the 75th, go on to-night to Paniput. It has been decided, however, not to leave this until one or two in the morning, which will allow of our getting a little sleep before we go, and of our reaching NEWS OF BRIGADIER WILSON'S VICTORY. 33 our ground at daybreak. It is a great thing for us the Horse Artillery having come, as they will always be with us now, and we are honorary members of their mess. General Barnard appears to be a very good, gentlemanly little man, and I dare say he is as good for the work as most others. He does not apparently want for pluck, and this, I fancy, is nearly all that is required. We have not been able to find out how poor Colonel Mowatt is. He was left behind at Piplee yesterday morning very ill with cholera; curious his being attacked, for it seems to have been a solitary case, the whole troop, Turner told me this morning, being in excellent health. I am glad to hear that Mrs Hallifax is so cheerful: remember me very kindly to her. I hope to-morrow or next day to be able to send some account of Brigadier Hallifax ; his brigade ought to be two marches beyond Paniput to-day. Becher has lent me a very nice single pole-tent. With the assistance of a tattie, the temperature is bearable enough, and altogether I am very comfortable. It is a great comfort indeed Chester being so well. He bears up bravely, and, I hope, will continue to do so, for we cannot spare him. Yes, I saw the Lahore Chronicle giving me by name as one who 'bolted!' The accusation has not disturbed me; I am quite satisfied that I did right, and that there was nothing dishonourable in leaving Simla as I did.† Shute and Maisey I saw to-day, looking well, as indeed are all our party, Head-Quarters and Divisional Staff. Hope Grant is here, but I have not seen him; he goes on to-night by mailcart to join the Advance Brigade, where there are three squadrons of his regiment. Open all letters that come for me. No tidings yet of Colonel Mowatt, so I trust he is recovering, as bad news travels fast. I saw Dr Paton yesterday, looking well. No home mail in yet. Tell Mrs Norman that her husband is very jolly. CAMP, PANIPUT, Monday, 1st June. All is well with us, and we have been gladdened to-day with the news of the Brigadier's most opportune victory. I have given * A screen of wet grass or straw. 34 BRIGADIER WILSON'S DESPATCH. the substance of his despatch, which was a very short one, on a separate piece of paper, to allow of your circulating it to all interested in your neighbourhood. Substance of Brigadier ARCHDALE WILSON'S Despatch of A despatch was received from Brigadier Wilson this morning stating that on the 30th, about 4 P.M., he was attacked at Ghazeeoodeen-Nugar by a large party of the insurgents from Delhi, who have heavy ordnance with them. The enemy were driven back, and entirely defeated; the Brigadier capturing four of their heavy guns and one large howitzer, with trifling loss on our side. The troops, he states, all of them, behaved most admirably. The despatch was written at 8 P.M. of the 30th, and further particulars are promised to-morrow. Nothing is said of any officer having been killed or wounded, and the casualties that took place were principally from the accidental explosion of a tumbrel after the capture of the ordnance. A Native letter received this morning prior to the Brigadier's despatch says that the insurgents were completely defeated, the Delhi people who went out being the first to fly; and many had reached the city wounded with sabre cuts, evidently showing that the Carabineers had done good service in the conflict. The same post brought a letter from General Hewitt at Meerut, where all was quiet. This victory must be a great blow to the insurgents, and will no doubt have a most depressing effect upon them, and show what little chance they have when all our force is congregated together; this we expect it will be on the morning of the 4th, when Brigadier Wilson is to cross at the Bhagput bridge, close to Raie, where the Advance Column was to be this morning. We go on this evening a double march, the European Infantry being conveyed on the spare carts; and this will take us within nine miles or so of Raie, to be at hand in case the enemy should come from Delhi on this line of road; but after their defeat by Brigadier Wilson, it is most unlikely they will leave Delhi unless to try to get away to their homes--which, in fact, it is said they are doing in great numbers. |