were being incessantly withdrawn during the scorching heat of the day from one place to another.  General Barnard concluded as follows:  ’You may ask why we engage in these constant combats.  The reason simply is that when attacked we must defend ourselves, and that to secure our camp, our hospitals, our stores, etc., every living being has to be employed.  The whole thing is too gigantic for the force brought against it.’

Soon after Barnard wrote these lines reinforcements began to arrive, and our position was gradually improved.  By the 3rd July the following troops had reached Delhi:  four Horse Artillery guns (two British and two Native), a detachment of European Foot Artillery, the Head-Quarters of Her Majesty’s 8th and 61st Foot, one squadron of the 5th Punjab Cavalry, the 1st Punjab Infantry, and some newly-raised Sikh Sappers and Artillery.  The strength of the force was thus increased to nearly 6,600 men of all arms.  The enemy’s reinforcements, however, were out of all proportion to ours—­mutineers from Jullundur, Nasirabad, Nimach, Kotah, Gwalior, Jhansi, and Rohilkand arrived about this time.  Those from Rohilkand crossed by the bridge of boats and entered the city by the Calcutta gate; we could distinctly see them from the Ridge, marching in perfect formation, with their bands playing and colours flying.  Indeed, throughout the siege the enemy’s numbers were constantly being increased, while they had a practically unlimited number of guns, and the well-stocked magazine furnished them with an inexhaustible supply of ammunition.

I found myself under fire for the first time on the 30th June, when an attack was made on the Sabzi Mandi piquet and Hindu Rao’s house.  Eight of our men were killed and thirty wounded; amongst the latter were Yorke and Packe, both attached to the 4th Sikhs.  It appeared certain that these two officers were wounded by the Hindustanis of their own regiment; Packe, who was shot through the ankle, being so close up to the breastwork that it was scarcely possible for the bullet which hit him to have come from the front.  Consequently all the Hindustanis in the 4th Sikhs were disarmed and turned out of camp, as it was manifestly undesirable to have any but the most loyal soldiers in our ranks.

[Illustration:  FIELD-MARSHAL SIR DONALD MARTIN STEWART, BART., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., C.I.E. From a photograph by Messrs. Elliott and Fry.]

In the afternoon of the same day I was ordered to accompany a column under Brigadier Showers, sent on reconnoitring duty towards the Idgah, where we heard that the enemy were again constructing a battery.  It had not been commenced, but the intention to build one was evident, for we found a number of entrenching tools, and a quantity of sandbags.