FIRST WEEKS OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI. 191 



of artillery. But worse still was to come, for on 

 May 11 the mutineers from Meerut had entered 

 the imperial city of Delhi. In a few hours all 

 Delhi was up against our helpless countrymen, who 

 little dreamed that not a hand from Meerut would 

 be stretched forth to succour them. English men, 

 women, and children were cruelly butchered within 

 the palace itself, within sight or hearing of the old 

 king, who owed to our forbearance all the dignities 

 and comforts he still enjoyed. Before sunset all 

 Delhi was in the hands of the mutineers. 



Soon after nightfall of that sorrowful Monday the 

 weary watchers by the Flagstaff Tower, on a rocky 

 ridge that ran between the city and the canton- 

 ments, set out in scattered parties, by carriage, on 

 horseback, or on foot, along any road that might 

 lead them far away from the sight of their blazing 

 bungalows and the yells of ruffians thirsting for 

 more Farangi blood. 



As soon as the tidings of this twofold tragedy 

 reached Simla the commander-in-chief issued orders 

 for the prompt despatch of the white troops that 

 garrisoned the hill-stations of Kussowlie, Dagshai, 

 and Sabathu. Hodson marched with his regiment 

 down to Umbala, where Anson himself arrived on 

 May 15, in order to collect a force strong enough 

 to act promptly against the mutineers. In that 

 moment of supreme danger William Hodson came 

 once more to the front. On the 16th Anson made 

 him assistant quartermaster - general to the force 

 which he himself was preparing to lead to Delhi. 

 He empowered Hodson to raise 1000 irregular 

 horse, placed him at the head of the Intelligence 

 Department, and sent him on to Karnal for the 



