The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-17 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINE AT DELHI.

The following official account of the capture of
the Delhi magazine by the mutineers has been pub-
lished by the Calcutta Government Gazette:—
" GENERAL ORDERS BY THE RIGHT HON. THE GOVER-
NOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN COUNCIL.

" Fort William, July 24.
" The right hon. the Governor-General in Council is
pleased to direct the publication of the following authen-
tic report of the occurrences at the Delhi magazine on
the 11th of May last when attacked by mutineers, and
of the noble and cool soldiership of its gallant defenders,
commanded by Lient, G. D. Willoughby, commissary
of ordnance.

"The Governor-General in Council desires to offer his
cordial thanks to Lieutenants Raynor and Forrest and
the other survivors among the brave men mentioned in
this report, and to express the admiration with which he
regards the daring and heroic conduct of Lieut. G. D.
Willlughby and the warrant and non-commissioned
officers by whom he was supported on that occasion.
Their names are Lieutenants Raynor and Forrest, Cm-
ductors Shaw, Buckley, Scully, Sub-Conductor Crow,
sergeants Edwards and Stewart.

"The family of the late Conductor Scully, who so
devotedly sacrificed himself in the explosion of the
magazine, will be liberally provided for, should it be
ascertained that they have survived him."
"From Lieut. G. Forrest, Assistant Commissary of
Ordnance, to Colonel A. Abbott, C. 8., Inspector
General of Ordnance and Magazines, Fort William.

"Meerut, May 27.
" Sir,—l have the honour to E. port for the informa-
tion of Government, and in the absence of my command-
ing officer, Lieut. Willoughby, Artillery, supposed to be
killed on his retreat from Delhi to this station, the
following facts as regards the capture of the Delhi
magazine by the mutineers and insurgents on the 11th
inst. On the morning of that date, between 7 and 8
a.m., Sir Theophilue Metcalfe came to my house, and
requested rue to accompany him to the magazine for
the purpose of having two guns placed on the bridge, so
as to prevent the mutineers from passing over. On our
arrival at the magazine we found present Lieutenants
Willoughby and .Raynor, with conductors Buckley,
Shaw, Scully, and Acting-Sub-Conductor Crow, and
Se; geants Edwards and Stewart, with the native estab-
-1 shrnent. On Sir Theophilcie Metcalfe:alighting horn his
buggy Lieut. Willoughby and I accompanied him to the
small bastion on the river face, which commanded a full
view of the bridge, from which we could distinctly see
the mutineers marching in open column, headed by the
rivalry, and the Delhi side of the bridge was already
in the possession of a body of cavalry. On Sir Theophi
lee Metcalfe observing this ho proceeded with Lieutenant
Willoughby to see if the city gate was closed against
the mutineers. However, the step was needless, as the
mutineers were admitted directly to the palace, through
which which they passed cheering. On Lieut-nant
Willoughby's return to the magazine the gates of the
magazine were closed and barricaded, and every possible
arrangement that could be made was at once commenced.
Inside the uate leading to the park were placed two 6
pounders, double charged with grape, one under acting
Sub-Conductor Crow nd Sergeant Stewart, with the
lighted matches in their hands, and with orders that if
any attempt were made to force that gate both guns
were to he fired at once, and they were to fall back on
that part of the magazine in Lieut. Willoughby and I
were posted. The principal gate of the magazine was
sling :fly defended by two gune, with the elteveux de
freize laid down on the inside. For the further defence
of this gate and the magazine in its vicinity there were
two 6-pounders so placed as either to command the gate
and a small bastion in its vicioi'y. Within 60 yards of
the gate and in front of the office, and commanding two
Cross roads, were three 6-pounders and out 24-pounder
howitzer,, which could be so managed as to act upon any
pa.t of the enaee2ine in that neighbourhood. After all
these guns and howitzers had been placed in the several
Ipositions abuvenamed they were loaded with double
charges of grape. The next step taken was to place arms
in the bands of the native establishment, which they
most reluctant:3, received, and appeared to be in a state
not 'slily of excitement,but also of insubordination, Ai
they refused to obey any orders issued by the European,
particularly the Mussulman portion of the establishment.
lAfter the above arrangements had been made, a
train was laid by Conductors Buckley, Scully, and Ser-
geant Stewart, ready to be fired by a pre-concerted
signal, which was that of Conductor Buckley raising his
hat from his head, on the order being given by Lieut.
Willoughby. Tire train was fired by Conduct ,r Scully,
. but not not until such time as the last round from the
howitzers had been fired. S soon as the above arrange-
relents had been made guards from the Palace came and
demanded the possession of the magazines in the name
of the King of Delhi, to which no reply was given.
" Immediately after this the subadar of the guard on
duty at the magazine informed Lieut. Willoughby and
Ime that the King of Delhi had sent down word to the
mutineers that he would without delay send scaling
ladders from the Palace for the purpose of scaling the
walls, and which shortly after arrived. On the ladders
being erected against the wall the whole of .our native
establishment deserted us by climbing up the sloped
sheds on the inside of the magazine, and descending the
ladders on the outside, after which the enemy appeared
in great number on the top of-the walls, and on whom
we kept np an incessant fire of grape, every round of
which told well as long as a single round remained.
Previous to the natives deserting us they hid the prim-
ing pouches, and one man in particular, Kurreern
Buksh, a dur wan, appeared t r keep up a constant com-
munication with the enemy on the outside, and kept
them informed of our situa 10P. Lieu'. Willoughby was so
annoyed at the man's conduct that he gave me an order
to shoot him shoal I lee again approach the gate.
" Lieut. Raynor, with the other Europeans, did
everything thet possibly cou'd be done for the defence of
the magazine, and where all have behaved so bravely it,
is almost impossible for me to point out any particular
indivi•fuel. However, lam in duty bound to bring to
the notice of Governmenk the gallantry of Conductors
Buckley and Scully on this trying occasion. The former,
assisted by myself, loaded and fired in rapid succession
the several guns above detailed, firing at least four
rounds from each gun, and with the same steadiness
as if standing on parade, although the enemy were
then some hundreds in numbers, and kept up a
continual 'fire of mu-ketry on us, w:thin 40 or
50 yards. After firing the last round Conductor Buckley
'received a musket ball in his arm, above the elbow,
which has since been extracted here ; I, at the same
time, was struck in the left band by twa musket balls,
which disabled me for the time. It was at this critical '
moment that Lieut. Willoughby gave the order for.
thin., the magazne, which was at once responded to by
Conductor Scully firing the several trains. Indeed, from
the very corowencetnent he evinced his gallantry by
volunteering his services for blowing up the magazine,
arid remained true to his trust to the last moment. As
soon as the esplosion took pace such as escaped from
beneath the ruins, and none, escaped uuhurf, relreated
through the sally port on two river face. Lieutenant
Willoughby and I succeeded in reaching the Cailirnere
gate. What became of the other parties it is impossible
for me to say. Lieut. Raynor and Conductor Buckley
have escaped to this station. Severe indisposition pre-
vented my_sending in this report sooner.—l have, &e.,
"G. FORREST, Lieutenant,
Assistant-Commissary of Ordnance.
" N.B.—After crossing the river on the night of the
11th I observed the whole of the magazine to be on fire,
so that I am is hopes that little of the property fell into
the hands of th_e enemy. Park-Sergeant Hoyle was shot
about 11 a.m, by the mutineers in attempting to reach
the magazine to aid in its defence:
(I'rue c)py) "A. ABBOTT, Colonel,
"Inspecter-General of Ordnance and Magazines.
" R. J. H. BIRCH, Colonel,
" Secretary t 3 the Government of India in the
"Military Department."

LIFE IN DELHI.
The following statement of a native regarding
the interior sate of Delhi iu May and June is most
interesting :
I reached Delhi on the 21st May, 1857, and
stayed there till the 23rd June.
On my ant iv there I saw five Infantry Regi-
ments and the Sowars of the 3rd Cavalry, who were
stationed in Mohtabbagh and Salimgurh.
The Sepoys were so much afraid of the English
forces that they looked, quite pale. The cavalry
mutineers had 'a little spirit, and were wishing to
go to Meerut for a fight; but the footmen did not