THE STORMING OF DELHI. 271 



tending 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 accomplished, and its object attained, — 

 Delhi, the focus of rebellion and insurrection, and 

 the scene of so much horrible cruelty, taken and 

 made desolate ; the king, a prisoner in our hands ; 

 and the mutineers, notwithstanding their great 

 numerical superiority and their vast resources in 

 ordnance and all the munition and appliances of 

 war, defeated on every occasion of engagement 

 with our troops, are now driven with slaughter, 

 in confusion and dismay, from their boasted 

 stronghold." 



In the same despatch General Wilson especially 

 commends the services of " Captain W. S. R. Hodson, 

 who has performed such good and gallant service 

 with his newly raised regiment of irregular horse, 

 and at the same time conducted the duties of 

 the Intelligence Department under the orders of 

 the quartermaster - general with rare ability and 

 success." 1 



Some indeed there were among Wilson's officers 

 who held that the punishment of the princes might 

 have been left to other hands than those of their 

 self-appointed executioner. Sir Hugh Gough, for 

 instance, regrets that Hodson should have placed 

 himself in " a position unworthy of so brave a man. 

 The wretched princes, cowards and miscreants as 

 they were, deserved their fate, and I have always 

 held that Hodson was right in all he did, only 

 excepting that one false step." ^ 



In his delightful autobiography Lord Roberts 



1 Forrest's Selections. ^ Old Memories. 



