The defences of Delhi, which remain almost unaltered up to the present day, were modernized forms of the ancient works that existed when the city fell before Lord Lake’s army in 1803.  These works had been strengthened and improved some years before the Mutiny by Lieutenant Robert Napier.[11] How thoroughly and effectually that talented and distinguished Engineer performed the duty entrusted to him, we who had to attack Delhi could testify to our cost.

Barnard was not left long in doubt as to the intentions of the rebels, who, the very afternoon on which he occupied the Ridge, attacked Hindu Rao’s house, where the Sirmur battalion, two companies of the 60th Rifles, and two of Scott’s guns had been placed.  The enemy were driven off before dark.  The following day they began to cannonade from the city walls, and in the afternoon repeated their attack.

That same morning a welcome reinforcement reached camp, the famous Corps of Guides having arrived as fresh as if they had returned from an ordinary field day, instead of having come off a march of nearly 600 miles, accomplished in the incredibly short time of twenty-two days, at the most trying season of the year.  The General, having inspected them, said a few words of encouragement to the men, who begged their gallant Commandant to say how proud they were to belong to the Delhi Force.  Their usefulness was proved that same afternoon, when, in support of the piquets, they engaged the enemy in a hand-to-hand contest, and drove them back to the city.

It was close up to the walls that Quintin Battye, the dashing Commander of the Guides Cavalry, received his mortal wound.  He was the brightest and cheeriest of companions, and although only a subaltern of eight years’ service, he was a great loss.  I spent a few hours with him on my way to Delhi, and I remember how his handsome face glowed when he talked of the opportunities for distinguishing themselves in store for the Guides.  Proud of his regiment, and beloved by his men, who, grand fellows themselves, were captivated by his many soldierly qualities, he had every prospect before him of a splendid career, but he was destined to fall in his first fight.  He was curiously fond of quotations, and the last words he uttered were ’Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.’

While our Infantry and Field Artillery were busily engaged with the enemy, the few heavy guns we had were put in position on the Ridge.  Great things were hoped from them, but it was soon found that they were not powerful enough to silence the enemy’s fire, and that our small supply of ammunition was being rapidly expended.[12] The rebels’ guns were superior in number and some in calibre to ours, and were well served by the Native Artillerymen whom we had been at such pains to teach.  Barnard discovered, too, that his deficiencies in men and materiel prevented regular approaches being made.  There were only 150 Native Sappers and Miners with our force, and Infantry could not be spared for working parties.