DARDANELLES, PASSAGE OF THE.—This was achieved by the British fleet under Sir John Duckworth, February 19th, 1807; but the admiral was obliged to repass them—which he did with great loss and immense damage to the fleet, March 2nd following. The castles of Sestos and Abydos hurled down rocks, each of many tons weight, upon the decks of the British ships.
DARTMOUTH.—Burnt by the French, in the reign of Richard I and Henry IV. Prince Maurice took it in 1643, but it was retaken by General Fairfax, by storm, A.D. 1646.
DELHI.—Once the great capital of the Mogul empire. In 1738, when Nadir Shah invaded Hindostan, he entered Delhi, and 100,000 of the inhabitants were put to the sword. In 1803, the Mahrattas aided by the French, got possession of the place; but they were afterwards defeated by General Lake. This city has been the scene of much commotion in the course of its history.
The following is a short account of the storming of Delhi, in the last great mutiny:
“Until the latter end of August, the British troops before Delhi are rather to be considered as an army of observation, than as a besieging force. Their inferiority in numbers and artillery was barely counter-balanced by their superior discipline, courage and physical strength. These advantages enabled them, indeed, to maintain their ground, but not to assume the offensive.
Toward the close of August, however, a re-inforcement of European and Sikh troops, under Brigadier Nicholson, arrived from the Punjab, and, on the 25th of that month, the rebels were defeated at Nujuffghur, with great slaughter, and the loss of thirteen guns. A few days later a heavy siege-train was received from Ferozepore, and breaching batteries were constructed on the north side of the city. The siege may be said to have commenced on the 7th September, and by the evening of the 13th, the engineers reported two practicable breaches—one near the Cashmere, the other near the Water bastion. Arrangements were, therefore, at once made for an assault, to take place at daybreak on the following morning.
The first column, commanded by Brigadier Nicholson, advanced under a tremendous fire, and, applying their scaling-ladders, carried the Cashmere bastion, and established themselves in the main-guard. Almost simultaneously, the second column, under Brigadier Jones, stormed the Water bastion, and effected a junction with their comrades inside the walls.
A third column, under Colonel Campbell, awaited the blowing open of the Cashmere gate to join the assault. They had not long to wait. Lieutenants Salkeld and Home, of the engineers, accompanied by three sergeants carrying the powder-bags, walked up to the gateway in broad daylight, and, while exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, coolly fastened the bags to the iron spikes of the gate. In the performance of this heroic exploit, Lieutenant Salkeld was severely wounded, and two of the sergeants killed upon the spot; but the train was lighted, and the gate blown open with a tremendous crash.