THE VICTORIA CROSS.

THE Indian Mutiny, like the Crimean War, afforded many opportunities for gaining the Victoria Cross, of which an engraving and description were given in the first section of this work. The following officers and men gained this valued distinction for services performed in India.

SECOND DRAGOON GUARDS. Lieutenant ROBERT BLAIR-A most gallant feat was performed on the 28th. of September, 1857, by this officer, who was ordered to take a party of one sergeant and twelve men, and bring in a deserted ammunition waggon. As his party approached, a body of fifty or sixty of the enemy's horse came down upon him from a village, where they had remained unobserved; without a moment's hesitation he formed up his men, and, regardless of the odds, gallantly led them on, dashing through the rebels. He made good his retreat without losing a man, leaving nine of them dead on the field. Of these he killed four himself; but, after having run a native officer through the body with his sword, he was severely wounded, the joint of his shoulder being nearly severed.

SEVENTH HUSSARS. Cornet WILLIAM GEORGE HAWTREY BANKS.The decoration of the Victoria Cross was provisionally conferred upon this officer by the Commander-in-chief in India, for conspicuous gallantry, in thrice charging a body of infuriated fanatics, who had rushed on the guns employed in shelling a small mud fort in the vicinity of Moosa-Bagh, Lucknow, on the 19th. of March, 1858—of the wounds received on which occasion he subsequently died. Had he survived his name would have been recommended to Her Majesty for confirmation. Major CHARLES CRAUFURD FRASER.-For conspicuous and cool gallantry, on the 31st. of December, 1858, in having volunteered, at great personal risk, and under a sharp fire of musketry, to swim to the rescue of Captain Stisted and some men of the 7th. Hussars, who were in imminent danger of being drowned in the River Raptee, while in pursuit of the rebels. Major Fraser succeeded in this gallant service, although at the time partially disabled, not having recovered from a severe wound received while leading a squadron in a charge against some fanatics, in the action at Nawabgunge, on the 13th. of June, 1858.

EIGHTH HUSSARS. Captain CLEMENT WALKER HENEAGE, Sergeant JOSEPH WARD, Farrier GEORGE HOLLIS, and Private JOHN PEARSON.— Were selected for the Victoria Cross by their companions in the gallant charge made by a squadron of the regiment at Gwalior, on the 17th. of June, 1858, when, supported by a division of the Bombay Horse Artillery

and Her Majesty's 95th. regiment, they routed the enemy, who were advancing against Brigadier Smith's position, charged through the rebel camp into two batteries, capturing and bringing into camp two of the enemy's guns, under a heavy and converging fire from the fort and town. Troop Sergeant-Major JAMES CHAMPION.-At Beejapore on the 8th. of September, 1858, when both the officers attached to the troop were disabled, and himself severely wounded at the commencement of the action by a ball through his body, he continued at his duty forward, throughout the pursuit, and disabled several of the enemy with his pistol. He was also recommended for distinguished conduct at Gwalior. NINTH LANCERS. Lieutenant ALFRED STOWELL JONES.--The cavalry charged the rebels on the 8th. of June, 1857, and rode through them. Lieutenant Jones, with his squadron, gallantly captured one of their guns, killing the drivers, and, with Lieutenant-Colonel Yule's assistance, turned it upon a village occupied by the rebels, who were quickly dislodged. This was a well-conceived act, gallantly executed.-(Despatch from Major-General James Hope Grant, K.C.B., dated 10th. January, 1858.) Sergeant H. HARTIGAN.-For daring and distinguished gallantry in the following instances:-At the battle of Budle-ke-Serai, near Delhi, on the 8th. of June, 1857, in going to the assistance of Sergeant H. Helstone, who was wounded, dismounted, and surrounded by the enemy, and at the risk of his own life carrying him to the rear. On the 10th. of October, 1857, at Agra, in having run unarmed to the assistance of Sergeant Crews, who was attacked by four rebels. Hartigan caught a tulwar from one of them with his right hand, and with the other hit him on the mouth, disarmed him, and then defended himself against the other three, killing one and wounding two, when he was himself disabled from further service by severe and dangerous wounds. Privates THOMAS HANCOCK and JOHN PURCELL.-The guns, I am happy to say, were saved; but a waggon of Major Scott's battery was blown up. I must not fail to mention the excellent conduct of a sowar of the 4th. Irregular Cavalry and two men of the 9th. Lancers, Privates Thomas Hancock and John Purcell, who, when my horse was shot down, remained by me throughout. One of these men and the sowar offered me their horses, and I was dragged out by the sowar's horse. Private Hancock was severely wounded, and Private Purcell's horse was killed under him. The Sowar's name is Roopur Khan.-Extract of a letter from Brigadier J. H. Grant, C.B., Commanding Cavalry Brigade of the Field Force, to the Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General of Division; dated, Camp, Delhi, 22nd. June, 1857. Private J. R. ROBERTS.-For bringing in a comrade, mortally wounded, at Boolundshuhur, on the 28th. of September, 1857, through a street under a heavy musketry fire, in which service he was himself wounded. Lance-Corporal R. KELLS.-For defending, on the same day and place, against a number of the enemy, his commanding officer, Captain Drysdale, who was lying in a street with his collar-bone broken, his horse having been disabled by a shot, and remaining with him until out of danger. Private P. DONOHOE.-For having, on the above occasion, gone to the support of Lieutenant Blair, who had been severely wounded, and with a few other men brought that officer in

safety through a large body of the enemy's cavalry. Private J. FREEMAN. For having gone, on the 10th. of October, 1857, at Agra, to the assistance of Lieutenant Jones, who had been shot, killing the leader of the enemy's cavalry, and for defending this officer against several of the enemy. Troop Sergeant-Major SPENCE.-For conspicuous gallantry on the 17th. of January, 1858, at Shumsabad, in going to the assistance of Private Kidd, who had been wounded, and his horse disabled, and bringing him out of a large number of rebels. Lance Corporal W. GOAT.-For conspicuous gallantry at Lucknow, on the 6th. of March, 1858, in having dismounted in the presence of a number of the enemy, and taken up the body of Major Smyth, of the 2nd. Dragoon Guards, which he attempted to bring off the field, and after being obliged to relinquish it, being surrounded by the eneiny's cavalry, he went a second time under a heavy fire to recover the body. Troop Sergeant-Major RUSHE.-For conspicuous bravery, near Lucknow, on the 19th. of March, 1858, in having, in company with one private of the troop, attacked eight of the enemy, who had posted themselves in a nullah, and killed three of them. Private R. NEWELL.-For going, at Lucknow, on the 19th. of March, 1858, to the assistance of a comrade whose horse had fallen on bad ground, and bringing him away, under a heavy fire of musketry from a large body of the enemy.

FOURTEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS. Lieutenant JAMES LEITH.-(See page 156.

SEVENTEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS. Lieutenant HENRY EVELYN WOOD. For having on 19th. of October, 1858, during the action at Sindwaho, when in command of a troop of the 3rd. Light Cavalry, attacked with much gallantry, almost single-handed, a body of rebels who had made a stand, whom he routed; and also for having subsequently, near Sindhora, gallantly advanced with a Duffader and Sowar of Beatson's Horse, and rescued from a band of robbers a Potail, Chemmum Singh, whom they had captured and carried off to the jungle, where they intended to hang him.

ROYAL ARTILLERY.

Captain FRANCIS CORNWALLIS MAUDE, C.B.This officer steadily and cheerily pushed on with his men, and bore down the desperate opposition of the enemy, though with the loss of one-third of his artillerymen. Sir James Outram reported that this attack appeared to him to indicate no reckless or foolhardy daring, but the calm heroism of a true soldier, who fully appreciated the difficulties and dangers of the task he had undertaken; and that, but for Captain Maude's nerve and coolness on this trying occasion, the army could not have advanced.-Extract from Field Force Orders of Major-General Havelock, 17th. of October, 1857. Bombardier JOSEPH BRENNAN.-For marked gallantry at the assault of Jhansi, on the 3rd. of April, 1858, in bringing up two guns of the Hyderabad Contingent, manned by natives, lying each under a heavy fire from the walls, and directing them so accurately as to compel the enemy to abandon his battery.

ROYAL ENGINEERS. Corporal MICHAEL SLEAVON.-For determined bravery on the attack of the fort of Jhansi, on the 3rd. of April, 1858, in maintaining his position at the head of a sap, and continuing the

work under a heavy fire, with a cool and steady determination worthy of the highest praise.

MILITARY TRAIN. Private SAMUEL MORLEY.-On the evacuation of Azimghur by Koer Singh's army, on the 15th. of April, 1858, a squadron of the Military Train and half a troop of Horse Artillery were sent in pursuit. Upon overtaking them and coming into action with their rear guard, a squadron of the 3rd. Sikh Cavalry (also detached in pursuit,) and one troop of the Military Train were ordered to charge, when Lieutenant and Adjutant Hamilton, who commanded the Sikhs, was unhorsed and immediately surrounded by the enemy, who commenced cutting and hacking him whilst on the ground. Private Morley, seeing the predicament that Lieutenant Hamilton was in, although his (Morley's) horse had been shot from under him, immediately and most gallantly rushed up, on foot, to his assistance, and in conjunction with Farrier Murphy, cut down one of the sepoys, and fought over Lieutenant Hamilton's body, until further assistance came up, and thereby was the means of saving that officer from being killed on the spot. Private MICHAEL MURPHY, Farrier.-Received the Victoria Cross for the same act; he cut down several men, and although himself severely wounded, never left Lieutenant Hamilton's side until support arrived.

FIFTH REGIMENT. Sergeant ROBERT GRANT.-For conspicuous devotion at Alumbagh, on the 24th. of September, 1857, in proceeding under a heavy and galling fire to save the life of Private E. Deveney, whose leg had been shot away, and eventually carrying him safe into camp, with the assistance of the late Lieutenant Brown and some comrades. Private PETER M'MANUS.-A party, on the 26th. of September, 1857, was shut up and besieged in a house in the city of Lucknow by the rebel sepoys. Private M'Manus kept outside the house until he himself was wounded, and, under cover of a pillar, kept firing on the sepoys, and prevented their rushing on the house. He also, in conjunction with Private John Ryan, rushed into the street and took Captain Arnold, of the 1st. Madras Fusiliers, out of a dooly, and brought him into the house in spite of a heavy fire, in which that officer was again wounded. Private PATRICK M'HALE. For conspicuous bravery at Lucknow on the 2nd. of October, 1857, when he was the first man at the capture of one of the guns at the Cawnpore Battery; and again on the 22nd. of December, 1857, when, by a bold rush, he was the first to take possession of one of the enemy's guns, which had sent several rounds of grape through his company, which was skirmishing up to it. On every occasion of attack Private M'Hale was the first to meet the foe, amongst whom he caused such consternation by the boldness of his rush, as to leave little work for those who followed to his support. By his habitual coolness and daring, and sustained bravery in action, his name became a household word for gallantry among his comrades.

TENTH REGIMENT. Private JOHN KIRK.-For daring gallantry at Benares, on the 4th. of June, 1857, on the outbreak of the mutiny of the native troops at that station, in having volunteered to proceed with two non-commissioned officers to rescue Captain Brown, pension paymaster, and his family, who were surrounded by rebels in the compound of their