FIRST WEEKS OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI. 203 



of their position in the cantonments up to and into 

 the walls of Delhi. I write a line in pencil on the 

 top of a drum to say that I am mercifully un- 

 touched, and none the worse for a very hard 

 morning's work. Our loss has been considerable, 

 the rebels having been driven from their guns at 

 the point of the bayonet. Poor Colonel Chester 

 killed at the first fire ! Alfred Light (who won the 

 admiration of all) wounded, but not severely. No 

 one else of the staff party killed or wounded ; but 

 our general returns will, I fear, tell a sad tale. 

 Greville slightly hurt. The enemy's guns captured, 

 and their dispersion and route very complete." 



Of Hodson's own share in that morning's work 

 General Thomason has furnished some characteristic 

 details : — 



" The general plan of attack was that the advance 

 column under Sir Hope Grant was to cross the canal 

 by one of the numerous bridges, and following along 

 the right bank of the canal to recross at another 

 bridge, taking the enemy on his left flank. The 

 main body in the mean time was to make a frontal 

 attack. 



" As the canal ofiicer best knowing the district,^ 

 I was told off to accompany and guide Sir Hope 

 Grant. I did not quite know what position the 

 enemy had taken up. I knew that Hodson had 

 been reconnoitring in this direction, so I went to 

 him for information. What he told me seemed to 

 place the enemy's position nearer the Ochterlony 

 Gardens than it turned out to be, and the result 

 was as follows : I led Sir Hope Grant past the 



' At the outbreak of the Mutiny he was acting as deputy-superin- 

 tendent of the Western Jumna Canal. 



