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How did British reinforcements from Punjab help recapture Delhi?

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Illustration of De Kantzow defending the treasury at Mainpuri during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, showing a British officer confronting armed sepoys inside a building as tensions rise during the uprising. — Indian Rebellion of 1857 Indian sepoys (soldiers) corner a British officer amid their attack on a treasury in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh.

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British forces initially struggled to recapture Delhi due to being dispersed and facing superior numbers of rebel fighters. The situation changed significantly because of the resolution of Sir John Lawrence, who maintained a firm base in the Punjab and was able to send critical reinforcements to the front.12

These reinforcements from the Punjab included 2,000 additional men and a vital siege train of 32 guns, all under the command of Brigadier General John Nicholson. By early September, these arrivals helped the British assemble a force of approximately 9,000 troops, which included a significant number of Punjabis, Sikhs, and Gurkhas. The siege guns provided by the Punjab reinforcements allowed the British to breach the city walls by September 14, enabling the final successful assault on Delhi.12