Between June 7 and September 14—the day of the assault—the besieging force fought no fewer than thirty-two engagements, and so heavy were the duties thrown on officers and men that it was impossible to relieve the guards, men remaining for days at a time on duty, whilst staff officers took their turn in the batteries and trenches. On the morning of September 13 the decision was taken to carry the city by storm. Two breaches were declared practicable on the northern side of the walls at the Water and Kashmir bastions. Practically the whole available force was detailed for the assault. The first, second, and third columns, under the command of General John Nicholson, were to act on the left; the fourth, under Major Reid, of the 2nd Gurkhas, on the right. It consisted of Major Reid's own gallant regiment (now well known to all soldiers as the 2nd Gurkhas), the infantry of the Guides, and such men as could be spared from the picquets of the British regiments on the ridge. No. 1 column of the force, under Nicholson, was composed of the 75th (now the Gordon Highlanders), the 1st Bengal Fusiliers (now the 1st Munsters), and the 2nd Punjab Infantry (now the 56th Rifles). This stormed the breach at the Kashmir bastion. No. 2 column, under Colonel Jones, of the 61st, consisted of the 8th (Liverpool) Regiment, the 2nd Bengal Fusiliers (now the 2nd Munsters), and the 4th (now the 54th Sikhs). The third column, under Colonel Campbell, of the 52nd, was composed of the 52nd (Oxford Light Infantry), the 3rd Gurkhas, and Coke's Rifles. The total strength of the three columns amounted to 2,800 men, whilst the fourth, under Major Reid, was 680 strong, but it had in support 1,200 men of the Kashmir contingent. The reserve was under Colonel Longfield, of the 8th, and comprised the 61st Foot (2nd Gloucesters), the 4th Punjab Infantry (now the 57th), Wilde's Rifles, and the Baluch battalion (now the 127th Baluch Light Infantry).

Casualties at the Siege and Assault of Delhi, May to September, 1857.

Regiments.BRITISH TROOPS.NATIVE TROOPS.
Officers.Men.Officers.Men.
K.W.K.W.K.W.K.W.
General Staff49------
Royal Artillery42443216112649
Royal Engineers31963213460
6th Carabiniers12189----
9th Lancers122664----
8th (King's Liverpool)3741129----
52nd (Oxford L.I.)142875----
60th (King's Roy. Rifles)410109266----
61st (Gloucestershire)2730112----
75th (Gordon Highl.)51479184----
1st Roy. Munster Fus.31195210----
2nd Roy. Munster Fus.4679156----
Hodson's Horse--------
21st Daly's Horse-------3
22nd Sam Browne's H.--------
25th Cavalry--------
Q.O. Corps of Guides26--51065215
54th Sikhs13--2743116
55th Coke's Rifles35--3571141
56th Rifles12--2441103
57th Wilde's Rifles11---2959
127th Baluchis1----1748
2nd Gurkhas (Sirmoor Rifles)16--2880219
3rd Gurkhas12---32033

Note.—I regret that I have been unable to trace the losses in those three fine regiments, now the 21st, 22nd, and 25th Cavalry.

The story of the siege and the assault is an epic which will remain a monument of the heroism of our troops, British and native, to all time. Those who stand on that famous ridge and gaze at the stupendous walls before them, must wonder, as I have wondered, at the audacity which conceived and the gallantry which achieved such a feat of arms. As I have said, by September 20 the city, with its arsenal, was in our hands, and on the following day a small brigade of all arms was at once despatched to open up communications with the North-West Provinces, and to aid in the tranquillization of the country. Our losses during the siege were grievously heavy. Out of a total strength of 640, the 60th Rifles lost 389 of all ranks; the 2nd Gurkhas lost 310 out of 540; the Guides 303 out of 550. Coke's Rifles had all its officers killed or wounded, and more than half the men. The 52nd had arrived from Sialkot just a month prior to the assault. It marched into camp 640 strong; on the morning of September 14 it paraded 240 rank and file, having lost 74 men from cholera and sunstroke in one short month! The table on [p. 315] tells its own tale.

Lucknow.

The following regiments are authorized to bear this battle honour on their colours and appointments:

Queen's Bays.
7th Hussars.
9th Lancers.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
King's Liverpools.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Lincolns.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Border.
Scottish Rifles.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Staffords.
South Lancashire.
Black Watch.
Royal West Kent.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
North Staffords.
York and Lancaster.
Seaforth Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
Cameron Highlanders.
Sutherland Highlanders.
Royal Munster Fusiliers.
Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
Rifle Brigade.
9th Hodson's Horse.
10th Hodson's Horse.
11th Probyn's Lancers.
21st Daly's Horse.
22nd Sam Browne's Horse.
25th Cavalry.
1st P.W.O. Sappers and Miners.
2nd Q.O. Sappers and Miners.
14th Sikhs.
16th Lucknow.
32nd Pioneers.
56th Punjabi Rifles.
57th Wilde's Rifles.