Colonel Robert Smith (1787-1873) belonged to the Bengal Engineers.

He is not to be confused with Captain Robert Smith (1792-1882) of the 44th East Sussex Regiment, who arrived in India in 1828.

Lying in marshy tract near Bharatpur, Dig was a fortress of great strength, almost inaccessible to an enemy. In Bharatpur the claim of a younger son of the Raja had been unwisely upheld by the British. When Charles Metcalfe became Resident in Delhi he reversed this policy, and sent an expedition under Lord Combermere. The fortresses of both Bharatpur and Dig were stormed and taken in 1826 and the rightful heir re-instated. Dig was dismantled, but the Raja’s palace and other significant buildings in massive sandstone were spared. Today this architecture is justly celebrated for its design and the perfection of its workmanship.

This picture shows the massive bastion walls of the fortress in the background. In the foreground are two European officers standing beside a great Mughal gun. Behind them are various buildings that are engulfed in flames. Numerous Indian figures enliven the scene.