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London, England, 1857-12-15 00:00:00

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THE CAPTURE OP. DEEM".

THE OFFICIAL. DESPATCHES.

From Major-General A. Wilson, Com 113 anding
Delhi Field Force, to the Adjutant-General of
the Army.

Delhi, Sept. 22.
Sir,—ln continuation of my despatch on the 16th
inst. I have now the honour to forward a report,
for the information of the Major-General command-
ing in the Upper Provinces, his Excellency the
Commander-in-Chief, and the Government of the
further operations under my command since that
date.

During the 17th and 18th we continued to take
up advanced posts in the face of considerable oppo-
sition on the part of the rebels, and not without
los3 to ourselves, three (3) officers being killed, and
a number of men killedand wounded. On the even-
ing of the 19th the Burn Bastion, which had given
us considerable annoyance, was surprised and cap-
tured.

On the morning of the 20th our troops pushed
on and occupied the Lahore-gate, from which an
unopposed advance was made on the other bastions
and gateways until the whole of the defences of the
city were in our hands.
From the time of our first entering the city an
uninterrupted and via°orous fire from our guns
and mortars was kept up on the palace, Jumna
Musjid, and other important posts in possession of
the rebels ; and as we took up our various positions
in advance, our light guns and mortars were
brought forward and used with effect on the streets
and houses in Chair neighbourhood.
The result of this heavy and unceasing bombard-
ment, and of the steady and persevering advance of
our t, oops, has been the evacuation of the palace by
the King, the entire desertion of the city by the in-
habitants, and the precipitate flight of the rebel
troops, who, abandoning their camp, property,
many of their sick and wounded, and the greater part
of their field artillery, have fled in utter disorganisa-
tion—some 4,000 or 5,000 across the budge of boats
into the Doah, the remainder down the right bank
of the Jumna.

The gateS of the palace having been blown in, it
was occupied by our troops at about noon Gn the
20th, and my head-quarters established in it tha
same day.
The great, diminution of our strength by losses in
action during the last few days, added to the severe
sickness prevailing among the troops, has prevented
my in4mediatnly organising and souding a column in
pursuit, but a force,* under command of Lieut.—
Greathed, will march to-morrow morning
towards Bolundshuhur and Allyghur to intercept
the rebels, whose intentions are said to be to cross
the Jumna at Muttra. My in'elligence, however, I
regret to say, is very defective.
The King, who accompanied the troops, it is be-
lieved, for some short distance, last night gave him-
self up to a party of irregular-loyally, whom I had
sent out in the direction of the fugitives, and he is
now a prisoner under a guard of European soldiers.
Three of the shahzadars who are known to have
taken a prominent part in the atrocities attending
the insurrection, have been this day captured by
Captain Hodson, and shot on the spot.
Thus has the important duty committed to this
force been accompli-hed, and its object attained.
Delhi, the focus of rebellion and insurrection, and
the scene of so much horrible cruelty, taken r ill I
made desolate ; the King a prisoner in our
hands ; and the mutineers, notwithstanding
their great numerical superiority and their vast re-
sources in ordnance, and all the munitions and
appliances of war, defeated on every occasion of
engag,.ment with our troops, and now driven with
slaughter in confusion and dismay from their boasted
stronghold.
The details of the operation have been so fully
entered into in my previous despatch and annexed
reports and returns from the various commanding
officers that little remains for me to say, but to again
express my unualified approbation of the conduct
and spirit of the whole of the troops, not only on
this occasion, but during the entire period they have
been in the field.
For four months of the most trying season of the
year this force, originally very weak in number, 1r
been exposed to the repeated and determined at-
tacks of an enemy far outnumbering it, and sup-
ported by a numerous and powerful artillery. he
duties imposed upon all have been labori Jus, harass-
ing, and incessant, and notwiths anding heavy
losses, both in action and from disease, have been at
all times zealously and cheerfully performed.
I beg to add my must cordial concurrence in the
commendations bestowed by officers commanding
brigades, columns, and detachments on the officers
and men named in their several reports, and I have
to express my own deep obligations to those officer
themselves for the valuable assistance I have at all
times received from them.
To Major F. Gaitskell, who recently assumed
command of the artillery in the field, consequent
on Brigadier Garbett having been disabled by a
wound, and to the officers and men of that distin-
guished arm, to whose energy and untiring zeal the
successful issue of the operations is so largely at-
tributable, I have to offer my hearty thanks. And
particularly am I indebted t that excellent officer,
Lieut.-Col. Hogge, Director of the Ariillery De-
pot, who volunteered his services as Commissary of
Ordnance with the siege train, through whose able
superintendence of the park and arrangements for
waso
teenda b;1
ae
ad
alsoto d e
ta
01 ocuatp ttl. e
J.
e ys tor
uu
nc tgi nDwa
phui ctyh
the supply of ammunition to the batteries our artil-
lerywas effe
Commissary, and Mr. J. St 1 b o es ury, Assistant
Commissary of Ordnance, for their
the whole siege.

To Lieut.-Col. Baird Smith, Chief Engineer,
who, in ill health and while suffering from the
effects of a painful wound, devoted himself with
the greatest ability and assiduity to the conduct of
the difficult and important operations of the siege ;
to his gallant and eminently talented second, Capt.
A. Taylor ; and to the whole of the officers and
men of the Engineer Brigade, my thanks and ac-
knowledgments are speciallydue for having planned
and successfully carried out, in the face of extreme
and unusual difficulties, an attack a'most without
parallel in the annals of siege operations.
To that most brilliant officer, Brigadier-General
J. Nicholson, whose professional character and
qualifications are so well known and appreciated, I
am under the greatest obligations for the daring
mariner in which he led his column to the assault ;
and I deeply deptire that his services are fur the
present lost to the State.
To Brigadier Rope Grant, C. 8., commanding
the Cavalry Brigade, and to Brigadiers J. Longfield
commanding Infantry Bri-
and W. Jones, C. 8.,
gades, lam deeply indebted ; and I have to offer
my best thanks to Col. G. Campbell, commanding
her Majesty's 52d Light Infantry, and to that in-
trepid and excellent officer, Major C. Reid, of the
Sirmoor Battalion, both wounded wjiile gnllantly
leading columns of attack; as also to Col. J. Jones,
commanding the Ist battalion 60th R.oyal Rifles—a

* Ist Troop, Ist Brigade Horse Artillery, 2d do., 3d do
No 17 Light Field Battery, 9th Lancers, Ist, 2d, and sth
Punjab Cavalry, Hodson's Horse (220), 2 companies Pun-
jab Sappers, 11. U. Bth Regt., H.M. 7th ditto, 2d and 4th
Put ati Infantry.
t Mirza Moghul, Mirza Kheyr Sultan, son 3 of the King ;
Mirza Aboo J3ukkur, grandson, ditto.

regiment which has shown a glorious example both
in its daring gallantry and its perfect discipline, to
the whole force--for the ability with which he co-
vered the advance of the assaulting columns.
I have pleasure also in bringing favourably to
notice the services rendered by Lieut.-Col. H. P.
Burn, attached as Field Officer to the Ist brigade
of Infantry, and by Capt. Seymour Blane, her
Majesty's 52d Light Infantry, Major of Brigade to
Brigadier-General Nicholson.

Co!onel J. L. Denniss, of her Majesty's 52d
Light Infantry, whom I placed in charge of the camp
during the operations, is entitled to my thanks
and acknowledgments for the able dispositions he
made with the troops under his command for the
due protection of his important charge.
To the officers of the General Staff of the'Army,
and to those of the Staff of the Field Force, my
cordial acknowledgments are due for the admirable
manner in which they hive performed their re-
sponsible duties.

•
To that very distinguished officer, Brigadie•:-Ge-
neral N. B. Chamberlain, Adjutant-General of the
Army, who, though still incapacitated by a severe
wound previously-received, proceeded to the ridge
at Hindoo Rao's, and performed essential service
after Major Reid had been wounded and it became
necessary to resume that position.
To Captain H. W. Norman, Assistant Adjutant-
General of the Army, who on this, as on each, and
every occasion, has been distinguished by his gal-
lantry and professional ability.
To that experienced officer, Major R. S. Ewart,
Deputy-Assistant-Adjiant-ener,al„and his gal-
lant and energetic coadjutor, Capt. D. M. Stewart,
Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General, who have con-
ducted the duties of this important department
much to my satisfaction ; and to Captain E. B.
Johnson, As-istant-Adjutant of Artillery, who
volunteered to command the 24-pounder batter y,
most ably and effectually carried out the duty as-
signed to him, and who rejoined my personal staff
on the morning of the assault, and who has through-
out these operations given me the most zealous and
efficient support, I an greatly indebted for the as-
sistance they have afforded me.
I beg also to bring very favourably to notice the
officers of the Quartermaster- General's Depart-
ment, Captain D. C. Shute, Captain H. M. Gar-
stin, and Captain W. S. R. Hodson, who has per-
formed such good and gallant service with his
newly-raised regiment of Irregular Horse, and at
the same time conducted the duties of the Intelli-
gence Department under the orders of the Quarter-
master-General with rare ability and success, also
that active and gallant officer, Lieut. F. S. Roberts,
attached to the Artillery Brigade, in the capacity
of deputy assistant quartermaster-general.
Lieut.-Col. Keith Young, Judge7Advocate-Gene-
ral, also, and his deputies, Capt. T. C. Maisey, and
Capt. H. W. Wilson, most zealously assisted me in
carrying my orders.
To the officers of my personal staff,—Capt, C. H.
Barchard, who h-as served with me, first as my
orderly officer and subsequently as aide-de-camp,
and to whose zealous and untiring exertions I am
deeply indebted ; to Capt. J. R. Turnbull, 2d aide-
de-camp, Capt R. H. D. Lowe and Lieut. R. C.
Lowe, extra aides-Ae-camp, I am under great obli-
gations for the zeal and readiness with which they
on this and All other occasions have performed their
duties. My thanks are also due to Major H. A.
Ouvry, who attended me on the day of the assault.
For the valuable aid at all times rendered by the
officers of 'the civil service who have be :n attached
to the force I have to record my warm acknowledg-
ments. Mr. Hervey Greithed, agent to the Deput-
y North-Western Provinces (whose subse-
quent sudden death I deeply lament), and Mr. 0.
B. Saunders, both of whom attended me in action
and made themselves most useful ; Sir T. Metcalfe,
whose gallantry in conducting Colonel Campbell's
assaulting column through the city was conspi-
cuous ; and Mr. H. W. Clifford, who was also in,
attendance on me, ara all entitled to my thanks.
While, however, iu acknowledging the services of
those officers whose good fox tune it was to be present
at the assault, and in the action of the 14th, I have
only performed a grateful duty, I should be greatly
wanting if I failed to record the names of those who
have previously distinguished themselves, but who,
incapac.ta'ed by wounds or sickness, were unable to
join in the operations of that day.
Among these I have specially to notice Brigadier
St. G. D. Showers, Whose cool gallantry on the
numerous occasions in which he has Leon engaged
has been conspicuous.
Also Colonel A. M. Becher, QuartermasterjGe-
neral of the Army, who, though prevented I,y a
severe wound, received in June laA, from taking
aennddep experiencedvl i nogffitcoe ar woofun d whoserec esievrevdi cbey
him ,on the 23d July.s
That admirable officer, Lieut.-Colonel Murray
Mackenzie, commanding the Ist Brigade of Horse
Artillery, of whose services I have also been de-
prived by a wound
which he received when in
charge of the heavy batteries at an early stage of
our operations.

That officer so distinguished in our frontier war-
fare, Major J. Coke, commanding the Ist Punjab
Riflts, severely wounded at the head of his regiment
on the 12th of August • and the gallant commander
of the Guides, Capt. 11. D. Daly, who was very
severely wounded leading a most daring charge. on
the enemy's guns in the action of the 19th of June.
I need not observe how largely the success and
efficiency of an army depends on the regularity of
its supplies. Under circumstances of peculiar diffi.-
culty, in a district the population of which has been
inimical, and in which civil authority has ceased to
exist, this force has, feocu the commencement, been
kept well and sufficiently provisioned with supplies
of every description, the issue of rations to the sol-
diers having been as regular, both in quantity and
quality, as in cantonments. My warmest thanks are
therefore due to Lieut.-Col. W. B. Thompson, De-
puty-Commissary
General, the admirable and
indefatigable head of that department in the fi,3ld ;
as also to Lieut. T. H. Sibley, principal executive
officer ; to Lieut. Waterfield, and to the other
officers serving in that department.
With the medical arrangements of Superintend-
ing Surgeon E. Tritton I have every reason to be
satisfied, and he is entitled to my cordial acknow-
ledgments. At such a trying season of the year,
and in a notoriously unhealthy locality, the sickness
and mortality have, of course, been heavy. In
addition to those sufferings from disease, the hos-
pitals have received daily almost accessions of
wounded men. Th 9 labours, therefore, of the
medical department have been unceasing, notwith-
, standing there has not been at any time the
slightestand comfort of the very numerous patients.
Among those medical officers whose unwearied
zeal
an failure
and
superior
ability have come prominently
in. the arrangements for the care
before me, are—Officiating Superintending Surgeon
C.
111‘Kinnon, M.D., who has been in the medical
charge of the Ist Brigade Horse Artillery ; Sur-
goon J.
2Ncliv.Full'.ll7lsactire,
goon J. H. Kerr Inner, 60th Royal Rifles ; Sur-
goonßrougham Ist Fusil r •
J. P. I ee 3, Surgeon E.
J. Clifford, M.D., of the 7th Lancers • and Assis-
tant-Surgeon; Assistant Surgeon J.
personal staff of the late Comunander.in_ahief.
Credit is also due to Surgeou. D. Scott, M.D.,
medical storekeeper. on the
Hare,

The duties and offices of the Provost-Marshal to
the force have been conducted by a very deserving
old tion-commissioned officer Sergeant-Major Stoud,
whom I recommend to
non-commissioned officers
deserving of a similar reward I shall have the
pleasure of submitting hereafter.
I should neither be fulfilling the repeatedly ex-
pressed wishes of the-Artillery officers attached to
favourable
h
nameson Horse o
f other
this force, nor following the dictates of my own in-
clination,
bietrhoo of
artillerymeni t
batteries efficiently, 1 Phoul cl have
o
acknowledge the valuable
assistance
Delhi,
stlneei
been most
wfhle failedicehbato
hay, throughout roughout the operations be-
fore cheerfully given by the non-
commissioned officers and men of her Majesty's 9th
Lancers and the Gth Dragoon Guards in working
owing to the compara-
ttbihreveeeni to byaqktsutemieet rp up the heavy
leilei s. -w
ni
umunablefi to man the battere which, tided by these
men, I have hlppilybe,n able to do. To these
regiments, therefore, and. to Brigadier Grant, who
so readily placed a certain number of his men at
my disposal for such put-pow,
I tender my best
thanks. _

over in silence the good services and loyal conduct
It would be an omission
of one who has already been rewarded by the Go-
vernment for the friendly assistance he rendered to
our army itt Affghanistan—l allude to the Nawab
With
Jan Fishan Khan, who, nephew,
on my part were I pass
his brave
Sirdar Bahadoor Alter Khan,
and their retainers,
accompanied me from. Meerut, was present at the
act:ons on the Hindu; and has since taken part in
nearly every action iu'which this force has been
engaged.
Of the loyal services rendered to the State by the
Rajah a k u t t i a 1 a , which must be so well known to

the Government, it may not be considered neces-
sary for me to speak ; but it is incumbent on me
in my capacity as commander of this force to ac-
knowledge officially the great assistance the Rajah's
troops have afforded me in enabling the numerous
convoys of ammunition and stores to travel in
security and safety to my camp under their escort
and protection.
Equally, it is my duty to bring prominently to
the notice of Government the admirable service
performed by the Jheend Rajah and his troops,
under command of Lieutenant• Colonel H. F. Duns-
ford. They have not only had very harassing
duties to carry out in the constant escort of con-
voys of sick and wounded men, ammunition, &e.,
but they have also aided me :n the field on more
than one occasion, and finally participated in the
assault of the city.

Lastly, I trust I may be excused if I thus pub-
licly acknowledge the all-important and invaluable
aid for which I am indebted to the Chief Commis-
sioner of the Punjab, Sir John Lawrence, K.C.8.,
to whose indefatigable exertions to reinforcing me
with every available soldier in the Punjab the sue-.
cessful result of our operations is, I unhesitatingly
pronounce, attributable, and I take this oppur-
-tunity of recognising the advantage derived from
the presence of the troops of his Highness the
harajah Runbeer Sing in alliance with the British
force, the moral effect of which has been great. And
although unsuccessful, I regret to say, inthe actual
accomplishment of that part of the operations in
which the Jummoo Contingent was engaged on the
14th, I can attach no particle of blame to thes6
fro ps, as I consider, under the circumstances in
which they were placed, the very strong position
which they bad to attack, and the prolonged and
determined resistance which they encountered from
an enemy superior to them in number, arms, train-
ing, and experience, that they behaved, under their
gallant commander, Captain R. C. Lawrence, and
the other British officers serving with them, to
whom my best *,nks are due, as yell as they
could have been 4fpected to do.
I have, &c., Sir,
A. WILSON, Major-General,
WILSON,
Delhi Field Force.