A CHAPTER OF THE MUTINY.

North Otago Times, 22 May 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CHAPTER OF THE MUTINY.

THE DEATH OF JOHN NICHOLSON. The sun had risen some way above tlio horizon on the 14th September, 1851), when our heavy guns sudden-, , ly censed firing nt Delhi. They had done, their work, and the breaches were once moro clear. Nicholson gave the signal for an advance. The 00th Hides, with a loud cheer, dashed forward in skirmishing order, followed by the ladder parties of the first two columns. As our tijpps emerged from the low brush\PW which lay between the Kudsia Hugh and the open slope of the "glacis," they encountered a furious storm of musketry from front and flanks, which laid many a brave man low. But Nicholson strode on, unhurt and unheeding, as if death itself could not stand against him. In n few minutes the leading stormers were in the ditch with Nicholson, planting their ladders on heaps of fallen masonry which nearly filled it. In a few minutes those who escaped the bullets and stones showered upon them clambered over the breaches in their front, and, with a wild, exultant cheer, drove the Pandies before them in momentary rout, While the first two columns wero clearing the ramparts from the Water Gate to the Kashmir Bastion, the explosion party under Home and Salkeld had succeeded, by force of sheer self-sacrificing heroism, in bursting open the Kashmir Gate, after four of their number had fallen dead or wounded into the ditch, Once inside the shattered gate, Campbell's column drove the rebels from the main guard, and, pushing on past the English church and along the broad Chandni t'hank—the street of silversmiths-found its progress stayed by n heavy fire from Delhi's grent mosque, the .lamma Masjid, and the adjacent buildings. Nothing remained for Campbell but to fall back on the police station and the line of the church. Here, in the open space around the church, Longficld's reserves were already posted. They, too, had come in through the Kashmir Gate; and, clearing the rebels out of the college gardens, had occupied the neighbouring houses, and with two guns commanded all the approaches to the Kashmir Gate. Meanwhile a party of the Ist Fusiliers under the brave young Gerard Money had been ordered by Major Jacob to advance along the ramparts to their right. Money hastened on, fighting his way at times against heavy odds, driving the enemy out of the Shah Bastion, turning their own guns against them and finally halting at the Kabul Gate. -He had expected to be joined by the rest of his regiment on the way. But Nicholson had carried them off to the attack and capture of various buildings held by the enemy along the line of his advance. By this means ho enabled Jone's column to push on before him towards the Cabul Gate, and hoist the British colours on the spot which Money had been the first to reach. An hour later, Nicholson himself, with the toil-worn remnant of his troops, appeared at the point beyond which no further advance was that day to be made. For the murderous repulse of Reid's column on its advance through Kishnganj had sadly diminished our fighting strength, and was now encouraging the mutineers to renewed resistance within the city. It had been part of Wilson's plan thnt the storming columns should clear and hold the

rnmparts as far westward as the

Lahore Gate, Nicholson was bent •'■' on fulfilling his instructions to the last letter. Gut what would have been possible an hour or half an hour earlier on that sultry day could not, in the opinion gf those around him, be prudently attempted now. Beyond the Kabul Gate ran a lane which skirted the ramparts leading up to the Burn Bastion. Its left side was lined by tho backs of mud huts, and further on by a few .'.ouses. No doors or windows bpen■tl into the lane. On the other side

I there was only a line of broad recesses surmounted by the rampart itself. Up this lane a few of the Ist Fusiliers had already ventured as far as the Burn Bastion, when the returning tide of mutineers constrained them to fall back. A little later the fearless Jacob caught his death-wound in leading his Fusiliers against some guns which swept the rampart and the lane below it with showers of grape and shrapnel. A few brave fellows who spiked a gun or two were struck down the next moment, and Captain Grcville withdrew his men from what seemed a hopeless task.

It became clear, indeed, that the only way to win the bastion and the gateway beyond was to break through the huts and houses along the lane. Our men, in fact, had little strength or spirit left for another call upon their courage and endurance. They were utterly spent and worn out by the strain which that morning's worlc had placed upon energies severely tried by a week of open trenches and the poisonous air of the cam)). The fierce excitement of the assault was over. They had "stormed the gates of hell," had done their duty like good soldiers, and felt that, for the present, they could do nothing more. But Nicholson, who had worked as hard as the meanest soldier, failed to realise the truo condition of things. He called upon the Ist Fusiliers to "charge down the lane," while the 75th were to "charge along the ramparts and carry the position above," Once again his men rushed forward, only to be driven back by the deadly hnil of rifle bullets and grape. Still, Nicholson would not give in. He had been reconnoitring the field outside the walls from the top of the Shah Bastion, and he longed to reach the Lahore Gate in time to secure an entrance for the fourth column, Collecting his men for one last effort, he marched proudly forward, waving his sword above his head and pointing it towards the foe in front. Two or three officers came close after him, one of whom, Captain—afterwards Colonel—Graydon, was doing duty with the Ist Fusiliers. But the men behind were slow in moving—too slow for their impetuous leader, who was by this time half-way up the lane. What followed must be told by Colonel Gray-don, "He found his troops checked; and it was while again encouraging the men, with his face towards them and his back to the enemy, that a shot, evidently fired from the Burn Bastion, struck him in the back, causing him to reel round. Luckily the recess before alluded to was close by. Indeed, j he was partly inside it, but not I sufficiently sheltered from the enemy's fire. Fortunately also for him, a sergeant was at hand—probably an orderly—who immediately caught him, and laid him on the ground inside the recess, and tended him. I happened to be on tho opposite side of tho lane, and went across to Nicholson, and did what I could, giving him some brandy, which seemed to revive him. Thus he remained for some little time, when it occurred to me that the enemy would most likely gain confidence, and move down the lane, when Nicholson would fall ta easy fletiHi to ttwir turj.

■"I therefore suggested to Nicholson that lie should let the sergeant unci me remove him to a place of safely. He, however, declined, saying he should allow no man to remove him, but w'ould die there." Finding persuasion fruitless, Graydon "judged it best to bring up assistance to him. So, leaving him in charge of the sergeant, I returned down tiie lane, meeting an officer and some men, to whom I mentioned Nicholson's state and the placo where he was, and advised their hurrying up to his help; which, I believe, they hastened to do." Shortly after, ho met Nicholson's aide-de-camp, Captain Trench, who, on hearing the sad bews, immediately went in search of assistance, About half an hour later Nicholson was brought back to the Kabul Gate, and Graydon learned from the faithful sergeant that his wounded commander wished to seo him. " I went across to him, found him in groat suffering, and gave him a little brandy, which evidently did him good. This was the last I saw of this gallant soldier, who was taken to the hospital camp, where he lingered, I think", for a week before death put an end to Ids sufferings."—From "The Life of John Nicholson, Soldier and Administrator,"- by Captain Lionel J. Trotter,