On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    1108_____ ,L __ /_ -__.:¦_.?. H .g ^ A ^...

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    The Io I As Revolt. ¦ • . ¦ . ——¦* — — •...

    the way in ¦ which it brought down the wall m huge fragments , what effect it might be expected to prod uce after a few hours . The Cashmere Bastion attempted to reply , but was quickly silenced , and both portions of No . 2 went to woik in fine style , knocking the bastion and adjacent curtains to pieces . Majors Campbell and'Kay e , Captains Johnson and Gray , had charge of No . 2 . No . 3 , however , did not commence fire till the following day , when the full power of our artillery was shown , and the continuous roar of fifty guns and mortars pouring shot and shell on the devoted cit 3 ' warned the enemy that his

    and our time had at leugth come . Night aiul day , until the morning of the 1-itb , was this overwhelming lire continued . But the enemy did not let . us have it all . our own way . Though unable to work a gun from any of the three bastions that were so fiercely assailed , they yet stuck to their guns in the open , which partially enfiladed our position ; they got a gum to bear from a hole broken open in the long curtain wall ; they sent rockets from one of their martello towers , and they maintained a perfect storm of musketry from their advanced trench and from the city walls .

    . " On the night of the 13 th , the engineers stole down and examined the two breaches near the Cashmere and Water Bastions , and , both being reported practicable , orders for the assault were at once issued , to take place at daybreak the following morning . . . . . .. ¦ .- " At four a . m ., the different columns fell in , and were marched to their respective places , the heads of Nos . 1 , 2 , and 3 columns being kept concealed until the moment for the actual assault should arrive . The signal was to be the advance of the Rifles to the front to cover the heads of the columns b j ' skirmishing .

    " Everything being ready , General Nicholson , whose excellent arrangements elicited the admiration of all , gave the signal , and the Rifles dashed to the front with a cheer , extending along and skirmishing the low jungle which at this point extends to within fifty yards of the ditch . At the same moment , the heads of No . i and 2 columns emerged from the Koodsee Bagh , and advanced steadily towards the breach . Our batteries had maintained a tremendous fire up . to the moment of the advance of the troops , and not a gun could the enemy

    bring to bear on the storming columns ; but no sooner did these emerge into the open than a perfect hailstorm of bullets met them from the front and from both flanks , and officers and men fell fast on the crest of the glacis . For ten minutes it was impossible to get the ladders down into the ditch to ascend the escarp ; but the determination of the British soldier carried all before it , and Pandy declined to meet the charge of the British bayonet . With a shout and a rush the breach es were both won , and the enemv fled in confusion .

    " Mean-while , the explosion party advanced in front of the 3 rd column straight upon the Cashmere Gate . This little band of heroes ( for they were no less ) had to advance in broad daylight to tbe gateway , in the very teeth of a hot fire of musketry from above and through the gateway , and on both flanks , the powder bags were coolly laid and adjusted , but Lieutenant SalkeTd was by this time hors de combat with two bullets in him . Sergeant Carmichael then attempted to fire the hose , but was shot dead . Sergeant Burgess then tried and succeeded , but paid for the daring act with his life .

    Sergeant Smith , thinking that Burgess too had failed , ran forward , but seeing the train alight , had just time to throw himself into the ditch and escape the effects of the explosion . With a loud crash the gateway was blown in , and through it the 3 rd column rushed to the assault and entered the town just as the other columns had won the breaches . General Wilson has since bestowed the Victoria Cross on Lieutenants Home and Salkeld , on Sergeant Smith , and on a brave man of her Majesty ' s 52 nd , who stood by Lieutenant Salkeld to the last , and bound up his wounds .

    " General Nicholson then formed the troops in the main guard inside , and with his column proceeded to clear the ramparts as far as the "Moree Bastion . It -was in advancing beyond this towards the Lahore gate that ho met the wound which has since caused his lamented death , a death which it is not too much to say has dimmed the lustre of even this victory , as it has deprived the country of one of the noblest men and the most gallant soldiers that England anywhere numbers among our ranks . " The 4 th column , I regret to aay , failed , but , as it was too far for me to know anything of its real progress , 1 prefer leaving its story to be told by another instead of sending you a vague and imperfect account . Had this column Hucceeded , its possession of the Lahore gate would have saved as much subsequent trouble . "

    Some further details arc tlms given by the Bombay correspondent of the Daily News : — u The buildings in the neighbourhood of the Cashmere gate afforded excellent quarters for the troopa , as well as capital cover . The people of the city came into camp and sowght protection from the army , craving pardon , and disavowing all participation in the rebellion , saying that they were compelled to remain prisoners in the city , and denying having taken any active pnrt in the insurrection . They wero told to pro-vo their loyalty by removing the bodies of the dead Sepoys , -which work they at once commenced , and wero clearing tlio city of them apparently with right goodwill . It was n noccasarylabour ; for heaps of mangled bodies covered the

    ground m all directions , on the roads and in ruined houses . The city , as far as tve bad gone , exhibited little else but ruins , from the midst of which" helpless women , unmolested , it is said , by our soldiers , rushed frantic and wild . Dogged resistance still met us in the narrow thoroughfares in which our troops fought from house to house . Forty and fifty men were sometimes found congregated . in one building , and of these , when encountered , our soldiers spared no single soul . In this street warfare , and the arrangement of guns and . mortars to shell the magazine , palace , and Selimgliur , the loth of September passed . The Magazine was stormed on the IGth without loss , and its appearance strangely contradicted the stories afloat

    during the siege respecting the want of percussion-caps and fuses . On the 17 th , a new and yet more advanced position was occupied in the Delhi Bank on the left , whilst the sappers on the right -slowly'held their way towards the Burn Bastion , which with the Lahore gate still held out against us . The Delhi Bank was not won without some hard fighting , but once occupied , waa obstinately maintained , as it faced the west front of the palace and Selimghur . In the marble walls of the former , as well as the massive old works of the latter , the enemy still held out , playing occasionally from guns and keeping up a continual fire of musketry , whilst along the streets leading into the Chandnee Cbowk was heard that dropping sound of musketry which tells of

    irregular and partial fighting . It was evident , however , that resistance must soon cease , for bodies of rebels were frequently seen escaping from the city , either over the Jumna into the Doal ) , or through tlic southern gates towards Muttra . AH day and night , and again during the 18 th , our shells fell thick into the palace and Selimghur , which it was not thought necessary to storm . Their fire indeed had now completely ceased , but the Burn Bastion was still defended , and an assault on the Lahore gate failed , Captain Briscoe , of her Majesty ' s 75 th , losing his life in the affair . On the 19 th , the liiie of the Chandnee Chowk was given up to us by the enemy , and our sappers having made their way up to the Burn Bastion , that was also carried without loss . The

    shelling still continued in the direction of the palace , and fire was directed generally upon the Jumma Musjid and the southern half of the city . Then it was that the mutineers gave up tlie defence as '; -iiopvless . They abandoned the city during the night , and evacuated their camp near the Delhi gate , leaving behind them all . their wounded , and blowing up their magazine . A steady fire of mortars had been kept -up . till daylight ( 20 th ) , when the Lahore gate was occupied without opposition , the Ajmcer gate and outworks were secured without loss , the 'palace , Jumna Musjitl , Seiimghur , the bridge —all Delhi , in . fact , taken . The King and Ms family had fled ; the townspeople hurried in crowds from the city ; and the victorious army of General Wilson occupied the ruins of Delhi . their ancestors in their fliht

    "To the tomb of came , g from Delhi , Meerza Blogul , Mirza Kiza Sultan , and Mirza Aboo Bukur , th-e two sons and grandson of the king . Here they were taken from their attendants by Ilodson and his Irregulars , and shot on the steps of the edifice . Their bodies , carried to Delhi , were exposed in the Kotwallee ( September 21 ) . " The agod king , Tvith his Begum , Zeenat Mahul , took refuge a few miles further on tbe same road in the Kootub Minar , a marble column of extraordinary height , crowned with a cupola . Hero he also was surrounded by Hodson ' s horse , and surrendered on being promised his life and that of the favourite Begum . The elephants and insignia of royalty all fell into Hodson ' s hands , and his troopers fired a volley in liin honour as the captive king was brought into Delhi .

    " The rebel Sepoys fled from Delhi in two directions . Many thousands of them , with a few light guns , following the right bank of the Jumna , reached Muttra on the 24 th , 25 th , and 2 < 5 th of September , and on the 2 nd of October partly crossed the river into the Doab , with tbe intention of passing into Oude . The Ntisseerabad and Bareilly brigades , comprising all that remain of the llohilcund troops , took this direction , whilst the Ncemuch and Kotah men , leaving Muttra , moved to Furrah , on the road to Futtehporo Sikree , with the view of either joining the Indore mutineers on the Chumbul at Dhoipore or crossing the Jumna lower down . " Smaller detachments , crossing the Jumna at Delhi , during the progrens of tho assault , made their way to Boolundshuhur , where tho Jhanai and Nougong mutineers have for some time been stationed . A nmall party

    took the direction of Allyghur , and succeeded in mastering our newly-appointed authorities at that place , forcing at the same timo tho small Agra column from Ilutrass back to Korowleo . On tho 23 rd a column of British troopB , numbering 1 G 00 infantry , 600 cavalry , and three troops of horse artillery , under Colonel Greuthcd , of II . M . ' h 8 th , crossed tho bridge over the Jumna , at Delhi , and rapidly marched down tlio road to Uoolundshuhur . Colonel Greathcd , came upon the . Jlianni rebels at Boolundahuhur and defeated them on the 27 th of September . Ha found their position strong , but nevertheless attacked it , drovo tho robela through tho town , and took from them one 0-poundcr and one iJpoundor gun , mucli ammunition , nnd baggage . They left upwardu of 100 ( lend on tlio Held , and wore nuun to carry off many killed and wounded . Our low was nixly killed and wounded , amongst the latter the following

    officers : —Captain Best , 8 th Cavalry ; Lieutenant « . T and Cornet Blair , 9 th Lancers ; and Lieutenant V ? * worth , . 8 th Foot , all severely . ¦ Capt ^ TSSSuffe Lancers , was severely hurt by the fall of hi / wi' ? was shot under him . On the 28 th , Col nelCwT ^ sent out a party of cavalry to take the ^& 2 Si £ winch the enemy had evacuated . " ai aiaglvur , An heroic episode in the capture of the citviBtlm . narrated by another authority : — y ms " The blowing open of the Cashmere Gate was *„ h the signal tor the rush , as the breach was not suffidem to permit escalade without ladders . Tho duty was com mitted to Lieutenant Salkeld , of the . Engineers who an proached the gate with three sergeants , carrying powder bags , under a - tremendous fire of musketry . He ,,. „ " first shot through the arm ; . notwithstanding that he went on to tlie gate with the bags of powder . As the

    party . approached , one sergeant was killed ; the second sergeant took up the bags , and knocked them on to the spikes of the gate , not being able to put them underneath , as tho wicket gate was opened , and about twenty muskets were pointed up , as well as through many holes in the gateway , and from both flanks from the wall . As Lieutenant Salkeld put on" the bags , he was shot through the leg , ami fell ; the second sergeant lit the match but after lighting it , said to Lieutenant Salkeld on the ' ground , ' I fear the match has not taken light , sir . ' At the word ' , ' he fell dead , riddled with balls . ' ' match , however , did ignite , and blew open the gate ; the third sergeant escaped unhurt . "

    Another account mentions as the Heroes of this exploit Lieutenants Salkehl and Home , Sergeants Carmichael , Burgess , and Smith ,, four Sappers , and a bugler of the 52 nd liegimcnt . Sergeant Smith was the successful man . . Tlie Governor-General has publicly thanked the army for their great services before Delhi—services rendered ere they had been reinforced by a single man from England or Bengal . lie then continues : — " To Sir John Lawrence , K . C . B ., it is owing that the army before Delhi , long ago cut oil" from all direct support from the Lower Provinces , has beeij constantly reunited and , strengthened so effectually as to enable its commander not only to hold his position unshaken , but to achieve complete ' . succe ' ** . •' .

    " To Sir John Lawrence ' s unceasing vigilance , and to his energetic and judicious " employment of the trustworthy force at his own disposal , it is due that ' Major-General Wilson ' s army has not been harassed or threatened on tli « side of the Punjab , and that the authority of the Government in the Punjab itself has been sustained and generally respected . * ' The Governor-General in Council seizes , with pleasure , the earliest opportunity of testifying 1 ' his high ' appreciation of these groat and timely services . " The writer of a letter from Delhi , dated the 25 tli of September , says : —

    * ' Riots are occurring daily on account of plundering . Some men of a native , corps actually iireU on a guard of ours to-day , in consequence of the men preventing them breaking " into a houso where valuables were secured . Our men wounded some , and took two prisoners , who will , no doubt , according to order , siuTer death . It is almost impossible to prevent ' looting , ' the city is so large . 1 have heard about some ladies being murdered on our entering the ; city , but no authentic news of it . The Sergeant-Major of the 28 th N . I ., the scoundrel win )

    gave every assistance to the mutineers in Delhi ( n huropean ) during their temporary occupation , was taken prisoner , endeavouring to effect an escape with tlie King ; he -was in native unform . He formerly belonged to the Artillery , and no doubt rendered good service to the rebels fn tlie capacity of a gunner , lie is now in our gnnrd in irons , and 1 hope the villauous traitor may got his neck dislocated ; ' he is a cut-throat looking beggar , and no doubt his life has been spared for the present so aa to pump him . "

    TI 1 K rilOCKBDlNOS OF THK FUGITIVES AND OTIII . fl HICHRLS . The writer in the Daily News , from whom vo have already quoted , gives a very full account of tho operations at various points of the fugitives from Delhi , and of tlie other rebels , lie says : — " Some of tho rebels went in the direction of Meerut , and , have penetrated into tho Itfoo / . uflfcrnuggur district . In tho meanwhile , the little garrison of Bleorut . lina ' not Leon idle , ns the following letter of September J !> d » ti 1 -- * - tifies : — ' At midnight on the 17 th , JMajor ' Stoke * and Lieutenant Armstrong , with two hundred « ' »• t ( ; Aflglmn and Mooltau Horse , accompanied l » y Ciipdim € ragic-with about one hundred Irregular Chivalry ,. wont

    , out on a secret expedition along tin- Delhi road . At Nunrise on the following morning , they miiTuumled the village of Toorndnuggur , about halfway between Mtu-rut and DelUi , where the enemy ' s cavalry havo established tlieniHolvea in force . Secretly as everything was arranged , tho enemy were , not coinplotoly Inkuu by surprise . Some two hundred of them wen- rcnily mounted outside tho village , and the remainder defended tlie place from inside ; however , after liard flglitintf , tl « o enemy were defeated and driven out of tlio villujj *' , «»» place burnt ; fifty-Boven of their number woro cut lip , and Hovoral taken prisoncra . Our people had » m « KI 1 IC | 1 ft ml wounded ; amongst the number , 1 nm sorry to « n } i

    1108_____ ,L __ /_ -__.:¦_.?. H .G ^ A ^...

    1108 _____ , L __ /_ - __ .: ¦_ . ? . . g ^ ^ - [ No . 400 , Novbmbeb . 21 1857 " ¦ : . ¦ ¦ ' . ¦ . . ' " ^^^^^^^ l ^^* M ^^ " ^~^^~ - ^~ - ^ - ^— — ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 21, 1857, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21111857/page/4/