The Star of India

by Edward Sylvester Ellis

When the rebels were observed in the distance, the three native regiments mentioned were paraded in service order—the guns loaded, and Brigadier General Graves, having shown no more conception of the situation than a child, now proceeded to make the sepoys a speech, appealing to them to remain faithful to their colors and to do all they could to repel the mutineers, whose yells fell upon their ears at that moment.

This speech was received with cheers, and the Fifty Fourth especially were furious in their denunciations of the rebels, and they demanded the privilege of being led against them. General Graves and poor Colonel Ripley, commandant of the regiment, were touched almost to tears by the devotion of the Fifty Fourth. The latter officer immediately placed himself at the head of the regiment, and, leaving Major Patterson, the second in command, to follow with two guns, started in the direction of the Cashmere Gate, where it was reported the mutineers were gathering.

The Fifty Fourth moved with the swinging, even step of veterans, and Colonel Ripley's eye kindled as he looked upon the fine figures, who he was confident would stand by him against all machinations and in the face of every danger.

The approaching mutineers from Meerut were now in full view. They were a tumultuous horde, at whose head rode two hundred and fifty troopers of the Third Cavalry, the most fiendish of the Meerut butchers. On the breasts of many of them were medals gained in fighting the battles of England. Their horses were on the gallop, and they swung their swords on high and shouted greeting to the native regiments, drawn up with loaded muskets, awaiting the order to fire upon them.

A short distance behind them were to be seen twelve hundred infantry, all in uniform, though covered with dust, the whole savage horde on a run in their eagerness to reach the gilded minarets of Delhi. Their muskets flashed in the sun, and the crowds who were watching their approach knew only too well what it all signified.

Upon this frightful host the Fifty Fourth Regiment, under the leadership of Colonel Ripley, steadily moved, until but a short distance separated them. All at once the regiment, without orders, halted.

A number of the mutineers were among the soldiers, calling upon them in the name of the faith to join them.

Within less than five minutes from the time this appeal was made, the Fifty Fourth mutinied in a body and withdrew from their officers, who were thus left standing in the middle of the road. Immediately a squad of the cavalry dashed forward and attacked them. Colonel Ripley shot a couple dead with his pistol and then was cut down. None of the other officers had any weapons beside his side arms, and all were killed without the power to offer resistance. The treacherous Fifty Fourth made a pretense of protecting their officers, but fired over the heads of the cavalry, who, having finished their work, sprang from their horses, and affiliated with them.

The mutineers by this time were joined by many stragglers from the other two regiments in cantonment, and the wild horde made a rush for the Cashmere Gate, through which they poured into the city, cutting down all Europeans that were seen.

Meanwhile another portion of the Meerut rebels had crossed the Jumna and taken possession of the causeway on the Delhi side of the river, close to the Calcutta Gate, which was closed against them. Simon Fraser, Commissioner at the Court of Delhi, learning of their arrival, started and reached the palace, but was shot down, while the sepoys on guard threw open the gate and admitted the mutineers.