from Karnal to Meerut and back again (a distance of 152 miles in seventy-two hours) through areas full of hostile cavalry. Following this feat, the commander-in-chief empowered him to raise and command a new regiment of 2,000 irregular cavalrymen, which became known as "Hodson's Horse", and placed him at the head of the Intelligence Department. In his double role of cavalry leader and intelligence officer, Hodson played a large part in the reduction of Delhi. His major achievement at this time was the capture of the Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II. His major discredit was the execution of three Mughal princes: Bahadur's sons Mirza Mughal and Mirza Khizr Sultan, and his grandson Mirza Abu Bakr. The British knew that the old king of Delhi (also referred to as emperor of India) was proving to be a focus for the uprising and the mutineers. The king, his sons, and their army were camped just outside Delhi at Humayun's Tomb. The General in command said he could not spare a single European. Hodson volunteered to go with 50 of his irregular horsemen. This request was turned down but after some persuasion Hodson obtained from Colonel (later General) Archdale Wilson permission to ride out to where the enemy was encamped. Hodson rode six miles through enemy territory into their camp, containing some 6,000 or more armed mutineers, who are said to have laid down their arms when he ordered them to. Some have seen this surrender as symbolic of the decline of the Turks and Mughals in India, which had started after Aurangzeb. However, the mutineers (or rebels) at Delhi were simply demoralised after their hard-fought defeat and severe privations. Hodson accepted the surrender of Bahadur Shah II, the last of the Mughal emperors of India, promising him that his life would be spared. The capture of the emperor in the face of a threatening crowd dealt the mutineers a heavy blow. As a sign of surrender the emperor handed over his arms, which included two magnificent swords, one with the name "Nadir Shah" and the other with the seal of Jahangir engraved upon it, which Hodson intended to present to Queen Victoria. The talwar and scabbard of Jahangir he received from the emperor were presented by Hodson's widow to the queen and is still in the Royal Collection. The sons of the king had refused to surrender, demanding guarantees of safety. On