May 27th, 1857, At ten p.m. we started from Meerut a body of about 1,100 men, consisting of 400 of H.M. 60th Rifles, 80 of the 3rd battalion 3rd company of Foot Artillery, 50 of the 1st troop 1st brigade of Horse Artillery, 100 recruits with two large siege guns, 200 of H.M. 6th Dragoon Guards, and 150 of the Sappers and Miners. The 60th commanded by Colonel Jones, the company by Major Scott, Horse Artillery by Major Tombs, both, however, under Lieutenant-Colonel Murray Mackenzie; the recruits by Captain A. Light, the 6th Dragoons by Colonel Custance, and the Sappers by Lieutenant Geneste. The commander was Brigadier A. Wilson; his staff consisting of Captain E. B. Johnson, staff officer; Captain Hamilton, quartermaster; Lieutenant Waterfield, commissariat officer. The night of starting I was ordered to remain in medical charge of rear-guard, consisting of Captain Light's recruits, and company squadron of the Carabiniers. Our duty was, of course, to push on all stragglers. Our delays were, therefore, frequent. Camels' burdens upsetting, hackeries losing their wheels, etc. The night was cool, a great deal of lightning in distance. About daybreak came up with our advanced portion. They had justarrived at the encamping ground at the tenth mile from cantonment. After sleeping for about an hour, waiting for the baggage to advance, we were suddenly awoke by a violent shower of rain. It only continued a few minutes, being succeeded by a dust storm which made us sorry figures on our arrival in camp.

May 28th.     Except for a copious supply of water our camp was bad, being so crowded.   On our arrival found the tents almost pitched; all the baggage safe. Drs. Mackinnon, Smyth, and myself stay in the same tent. We three have charge of the Artillery. With   the Rifles are Surgeon Lucas, Assistant-Surgeons Biddle and Duff.     With the Carabiniers, Assistant-Surgeon Moore. Slept for about an hour after arrival, being very tired, and, except a few minutes now and   then on  the  roadside,   had  none   during the night. At the mess we have breakfast, tiffin, and dinner. This day was intensely warm, beyond anything I ever felt. Being under canvas without a breath of wind, is at this season far from desirable. Dr. Mackinnon, though a very old campaigner, could not sleep on that account; it makes little difference to me. From morning to night the perspiration was pouring incessantly. The sad news arrived this afternoon of the death of the Commander-in-Chief, General Anson. He was approaching  Delhi  from  Umballa,  and had reached Karnal when he died. This will cause delay. General Barnard, a Crimean campaigner, is likelyto succeed him. From Meerut we hear thatthe depot was flooded by the storm last night. A good joke is told of one of the volunteers. Behind the school of instruction there is a small wicket at which there was always a rifle sentry. This man thought he saw something and fired, this was in the direction of one of the bastions in which there was a guard of volun�teers. One of these out of compliment fired at the rifleman in return, and a volunteer in the opposite bastion threw his gun up in air and fell, as he thought, mortally wounded. On being carried towards hospital and being examined, nothing was found the matter. Another volunteer let his firelock off by mistake, setting fire to a tattee in the magazine. It was fortunately discovered in time and extinguished. Struck our tents at ten p.m., starting at eleven. After some delay at starting got on very smoothly. Not with vanguard, but ordered to keep beside the Brigadier.

May 29th. Night cooler than last. Crossed the canal at four a.m. Although little known of at home, it is one of the largest undertakings in the world. The road crosses by a very fine bridge. Stopped about twenty miles from Meerut. Passed a village burned to the ground and a large bungalow. In the courtyard the furniture, etc., were found half burned. Camping ground much larger than yesterday's, situated in rice fields. A report arose this afternoon that a body of four hundred troops were encamped about four miles from this. The Irregular Cavalry, under Captain Hall, went out to reconnoitre, but saw no one. The place of our encampment is called Maradunggun. Started at eleven a.m. My horse was so restless that I was obliged to walk the whole distance. It is said thel0thN.I. at Futtehgurh have revolted and are on their way to Delhi, so we were in expectation of coming up with them, but were disappointed.

May 30th. Our march stopped about 3.30 a.m., the Brigadier going forward with a company of Rifles to recon�noitre the bridge across the Hindan. Captain Hall's men started the evening before and occupied it. The Sepoys must have been on it lately, as cartridges were found. One man was caught on the bridge, not knowing who approached. He said he was a Sowar of the King of Delhi sent with a letter to the chief of a neighbouring village. This was found on his person with the royal seal. As daylight broke, the camp was marked out. The front is covered by the river Hindan, now fordable in many places; on the left the high�road to Delhi, at the junction of the Meerut and Allygurh roads; our right is covered by a large mud village. Not a man said to be on this side the Jumna. The river is crossed by a cast-iron suspension bridge. All remained quiet during forenoon. Day cooler than usual; strong breeze blowing. About five p.m. our outposts came in, reporting the approach of a body of irregular horse, followed by clouds of dust, advancing from Delhi. All our troops immediately turned out, but before they got out of camp a round shot was fired, which was aimed at Lieutenant Moore and two other officers of the Carabiniers. It struck the ground on the other side of the river and bounded over their heads. The second that came passed through and through camp, hitting the Dragoon hospital, passing through Captain Hall's tent, and killed two doolie bearers sitting smoking.

The Horse Artillery were on the right, Major Scott's battery in the centre, and the Rifles and Carabiniers crossed by the bridge. The position of the natives was on the other side of the river, in front of a village, their guns being posted among trees. A squadron of Carabiniers were what they kept firing at, but only succeeded in wounding one or two men. The Horse Artillery crossed the river, advancing at the gallop, although the enemy were firing grape, which fell short. Major Tombs turned their flank, and poured in a continuous discharge of grape. The Rifles soon advancing up the road, began to fire, and the enemy were driven from their guns by their charging. The guns were spiked, and the gunners bolted. Behind the cannon was a small tope of trees; in this there was an ammunition waggon, which, while surrounded by the 60th, blew up, throwing men, horses, etc., in all directions, killing about half a dozen, and wounding about the same number. A slow match is said by some to have been laid when they perceived their guns were lost; others that a havildar of the 11th N.I. set fire to it himself. The main body of the enemy were by this time far on their retreat, but behind were numerous stragglers, who were shot down and sabred. For want of a sufficiency of cavalry they did not consider it safe to charge, but the troop kept up the pursuit until stopped by sunset, and two burning villages they fired on their retreat. This was about three miles, or eight from Delhi. The number of guns captured were two 24-pounders, two 18 and one 10-inch howitzers. A number of sandbags, trenching tools, and ammunition were taken. What their object was is uncertain. Probably they intended to throwup a battery to command the bridge, not knowing of our arrival; or expected to remain unseen, place their guns in position, and open upon us in the morning. This will be a damper on their courage, but they deserve credit for coming out so far (eleven miles) and attacking us. The number of killed are � 6th Dragoon Guards, four killed, three wounded; 60th Rifles, ten killed, about fifteen wounded; Artillery, three killed, eight wounded; one bhistie and two doolie bearers�total, twenty killed, twenty-six wounded. Poor Captain Andrews, of the Rifles, was blown to pieces at the head of his company. Lieutenant De Bourbel, of the Carabiniers was wounded in the hand while charging a man ; he will lose three fingers by it. Busy until twelve p.m. assisting Dr. Moore. Had three amputations of thighs; he performed two. One was Sergeant Mackenzie; he died from loss of blood and from the shock of the operation. The other was a bhistie, who also died soon after. The bearer's leg that I amputated is getting on well, although he lost a great deal of blood.

May 31st. All quiet during night. About seven a.m. a report of men advancing arose, but turned out untrue. A party of the Rifles were sent out to burn some villages on the Delhi road. Yesterday when the firing commenced the camp followers and many servants made for the village on the right, Ghazi-u-din-nagar, but the inhabitants turned out with latties, etc., and drove them back. Many, how�ever, were seen going off to Meerut as fast as possible. About two p.m. the alarm was sounded, and all the troops immediately turned out. The Horse Artillery went off at the gallop in the same direction as yesterday. The firing soon became very warm. The enemy were posted on a ridge with a mud village in their centre. Their position strong, with numerous heavy 18-pounders. Their firing was exceedingly good. Colonel Mackenzie said that he had never seen better from natives, and that if the troops had not had a bank in front of them with the guns peering over, scarcely a man would have been spared. Poor Lieutenant Perkins was killed while crossing the river by a shell, which took away the top of his head. Death must have been instantaneous. The Rifles marched over the bridge and were soon peppering them at a village. One squadron of Dragoons supported Captain Light's 18-pounders, which were sent out, it being found that the 6-pounders of the troops could not commit sufficient execution. Another troop kept moving about in rear of Major Scott's battery, and the Horse Artillery to protect them. These Dragoons were a favourite mark for the enemies' guns, but from their moving about the range could not be got. The Rifles found some hard fighting in the village, but the great heat told more on our men than the bullets. After about one hour and a half heavy firing, the enemy retired in good order towards Delhi, with three guns, which they turned and fired at us and then galloped on. Captain Napier, of the Rifles, received a gunshot wound of thigh, fracturing thigh. Poor Lieutenant Moore, of the 6th Dragoons, was severely wounded at back of head by gunshot. He was sensible on admission. His helmet was cloven in, and the outer table depressed. Ball had not lodged. The Dragoons had no opportunity of charging. The escapes were miraculous. A round shot took away the butts of three carbines, while the Dragoons were patrolling. Two of the Carabiniers were drowned, one in following some Sepoys who took to the river, he plunged in after them where the water was deep and never rose. The other tried to make a short cut into camp, dashed into the river, and perished. Yesterday the enemy consisted principally of men from the 38th N.I. and the 45th. To-day, of the s8th and 20th N.I.; they were dressed in white clothes. The casualties by the sun are almost as great as by bullet. Two of the Dragoons were brought in dead, and four or five affected. Two of the Troop Horse Artillery died soon after coming in, and three more are still alive. The Rifles had a great many struck down. Two of their officers were affected and staggered like drunken men. The enemy are said to be commanded by a European, who is known by his appear�ance and the colour of his beard. Some say he is one of our artillery who escaped from the prison in Meerut. During the night several villages were in flames towards Delhi. The fire was bright, and illuminated all the sky.