The Press. — London, England, 1858-01-30 00:00:00

i I THE PRESS, JANUARY 30,1858. After this they lost their w,y, and got into the the Pilkoos h a h Park, then occupied in force enemy, but, discovering their mistake in time, very happily got into the right road and pushed on for Alutnbagh. Here the heart of Kunoujee Lall failed him — Kunoujee Lall now begged I would not press him to take me into Alumbagh, as he did not know the way in, and the enemy were strongly posted around the place. I was tired, and in pm the shoes, and would therefore have p re ferred g ain oinfgro in to Alumbagh, bat as the guide feared attempting it, I desired him to go on to the camp of the commander-in-chief, which he said was near Bunnee (a village eighteen miles from Lucknow) upon the Cawnpore road. The moon had risen by this time, and we could see well ahead. By three o'clock we arrived at a grove of mango trees, situated on a plain, in which a man was singing at the top of his voice. I thought he was a villager, but he got alarmed on hearing us approach, and astonished us, too, by calling out a guard of twenty-five sepoys, all of whom asked questions. Kunoujee Lall here lost heart for the first time, and threw away the letter intrusted to him for Sir Colin Campbell. I kept mine safe in my turban. We satisfied the guard that we were poor men travelling to Untroula, a village two miles this side of the chiefs camp, to inform a friend of the death of his brother by a shot from the British intrenchment at Lucknow, and they told us the road. They appeared to be greatly relieved on dis covering that it was not their terrible foe, who was only a few miles in advance of them. We went in the direction indicated by them, and after walking for half an hour we got into a jheel or swamp, which are numerous and large in Oude. We had to wade through it for two hours up to our waists in water, and through weeds, for before we found ont that we were in a jheel we had gone too far to recede. I was nearly exhausted on getting out of the water, having made great exertions to force our way through the weeds, and to prevent the colour being washed off my face. It was nearly gone from my hands. I now rested for fifteen minutes, despite the remon strances of the guide, and went forward, passing between two pickets of the enemy who had no sentries thrown out. It was nearly four o'clock in the morning when stopped at the corner of a tope or gr ove of trees to sleep for an hour, which Kunoujee Lall entreated I would not do, but I thought he overrated the danger, and, lying down, I told him to see if there was any one in the grove who would tell him where we then were. We had not gone far when I heard the English challenge "who comes there," with a native accent. We had reached a British cavalry outpost; my eyes filled with joyful tears, and I shook the Sikh officer in charge of the picket heartily by the hand. The old soldier was as pleased as myself when be heard from whence I had come, and he was good enough to send his men to the camp of the advance.guard. An officer of her Ma jesty's 9th Lancers, who was visiting his pickets, met me on the way, and took me to his tent, where I got dry stockings and trousers, and what I mach needed — a glass of brandy, a liquor I had not tasted for nearly two months. Cavanagh was soon taken to the commander-in chief, and safely delivered that intrusted to him. In conclusion, Cavanagh says that he undertook the enterprise from a sense of duty, but admits that some little hope of winning " her Most Gracious Majesty's Cross" animated him on the occasion, and that he received the warmest thanks of Sir Colin, yet the Victoria Cross "would make him a prouder and a happier man." band playing, return—now watch the mistake—to a camp one mile from Cawnpore. Mark the result. Next day, just as the twelve o'clock gun from the fort at Cawnpore has sounded, a rattle of round shot announces that the enemy, having been allowed to cross the canal, are going to attack us. We showed our weakness yesterday in employing our whole force against what appears to have been but a part of theirs, and hence their pluck. You will read the account of this day's fighting with astonishment, my dear father, for it tells how English troops, with their trophies and their mottoes, and their far-famed bravery, were repulsed, and lost their camp, their baggage, and their position, by the scorned and degraded natives of India. It was a sad business, and I dare say you will hear but a very modified account of it, so I will describe it impar tially. Seeing that we were attacked, the 82nd moved on in front, and we were sent (i. e., two companies) through a village on our right flank, and took up a position on the Nawalegunge road. After waiting here for some consider able period it was reported that the 82nd and 88th were retiring. So, marching down the road, we found ourselves, in about twenty minutes, on the other side of Cawnpore. Wheeling to the right, we attempted to join the main body, and then what confusbn greeted us !—flying camels, else an' hackeries, servants, horses, and mus ket balls ; before us overturned tents, pillaged officers, baggage, and men's kits. Well, we made a stand, and my company was detached from the others, and had to take up a position on the top of a large mound of earth, where we overlooked the whole field of action. It was a desolate scene, and one to make us feel uncomfortable. Again the order to retire was given, and silently through the deserted bazaar of Cawnpore the " beaten Feringees " made their way to the fort. I was lucky ; all my baggage, with the exception of blankets, shell-jacket, &c., was saved through the fidelity of a Madras servant. My horse, too, is safe. I found him at night in the intrenched camp. And now I must give you an account of the third day, the most disastrous for us all. The sepoys attacked us about ten o'clock. All through the Bazaar and Canes we kept fighting till about two ; then we advanced, and sustained such a storm of grape, mus ketry, and shells as some of the oldest among us had rarely or never beheld. My company was in front about four p.m., and repulsed the enemy, rescuing a gun in great style. About five my captain took off one subdivision, my fellow subaltern a section, and I was left with about twenty men at a place where I certainly never wish to be again. The men were falling fast, when suddenly from a road on the left a rash of etnd men, Rifles, and other corps came down, and the whole, in spite of the attempts of the officers to rally them, rushed pell-mell into the fort. The firing and fighting was kept up until dusk, when we retired from the town, leaving the mess plate of ten regiments and the *image of nearly all those officers who were murdered in their hands. The Secret Committee of the Best India House received on Sunday the following telegrams from Bombay and Calcutta via Trieste : THE SECRET COMMITTEE. CALCUTTA, Dec. 24, 1851. The operations of the commanderin•chief are to be directed in the first instance against Fattyglnir. One brigade will be sent to Akberpore, Etawah, and Mynporee. The main column will move against Futtygbur. The districts under Mr. Bapte are reported to be TO THY threatened. The Delhi column, under Colonel Seaton, reached Allyghnr on the 12th December. The 7th Hussars are ordered from Bensres to Allahabad. The commander-in-chief was still at Cawnpore on the 19th inst. The rebels on the Jaunpore frontier have broken up into several parties, only five or six thousand men remaining in their old position. Brigadier-Gecersl Franks is at Jaunpore; he has been reinforced with artillery and Europeans. The Azimghur frontier is threatened by rebels, who have buten possession of several villages. Brigadier- Gcneral Franks is to march immediately to Azimghur, to make a demonstration in that quarter. An attempt made by sepoys to cross the Gogra into the Azimghur district was defeated by our police and the neighbouring villagers. Brigadier Franks is not to enter Oude, bat to confine him self for the present to defence of the frontier. A large force of rebels and mutinous sepoys is said to have assembled at Selimpore, in Gorruckpere, near the border of the Chuprab district. A part of the women and children of the Lncknow garrison has left Allahabad fur Calcutta. The remainder will soon follow. Sir James Outran still remains with his brigade at Alumbsgh. The enemy in force are opposed to him, but they have not ventured to attack his position, although when the latest accounts, dated 17th December, left, an attack was expected. A. Ghoorka column of about 9,600 men, under Maha rajah Jung Bahadoor, has left Nepaul for ser►ice in the British territories. It was to have reached Segowly on the 22nd instant. Colonel Macgregor, from Moorshedabad, wilt accompany the force as military commissioner, with the rank of brigadier-general. The column will proceed in the first instance to Gorruckpore. Colonel Durand reports that the Shah Ladah and the remnants of his force were taken prisoners in the Mokundra Pass by the troops of the Bok Chief and the Bheels. The whole country has now turned on the Wil Tijutees (?). The capture of the Shah Lads,h requires confirmation. There has been an emente at Kotah. The troops inter cepted a letter from the Rojah to Colonel Lawrence, inviting him send a force to Kotah. They attacked the 103 Holkar's regular cavalry and infantry were quietly dis armed on the Litb of December, in the presence of the Mhow column. The Durbar have promised to punish the guilty . Sir Robert Hamilton assumed charge of the agency on the 16th of December. From Madras another column will more via Nagpore on Jubbulpore, and may, in case of necessity, be brought onwards as far as Saugor. It is hoped that this force will restore tranquillity in the Bangor and Nerbudda territories. A telegram from Delhi reports the defeat on the 16th of November of the Joudpare Legion, numbering 6,000 men, by Showers's moveable column. All their guns, six in number, were captured. Colonel Gerard was killed. Mr. Yale, Commissioner of Rh agulpore, with 100 soldiers and sailors, surprised and defeated the I 1 th Irregular Cavalry near Purneah, on the 11th of December, killing six, and wounding several others. Head-quart' rs of her Majesty's 19th Regiment arrived on the 17th of December. G. F. EDMONSTONE, Secretary to the Government of India. R►VEN. 4, Trieste, Jan. 23, 2.90 p.m. TO THE SECRET EAST INDIA HOUSE, The rebels, defeated atCaWnpo re , have fled to Bithoor and Calpee. Thirty-eight guns have been taken. Colonel Seaton again defeated the rebels at Ptittiala, near Futtyghur, with great loss, on December 17th. He took eleven guns. The loss on our side was trifling. A force under Captain Woolly, on December 7th, crossed the Soonair River, and routed the rebels. On the 10th of December the same force captured the camp of Bahadoor Singh, and on December 14th several leaders were taken and hanged. Insurgents at Kotah are in great force, and are said to have dethroned the Rajah. The troops of the Rana of Ondeypore have mutinied. Executions among Holkar's mutinous troops are in progress. Sir Hugh Rose marches on the Ist January to the relief - - of Saugor - . The Punjaub and Scinde quiet. The Sholapoor Rajah is reported to have commenced plundering the adjacent country. Some small affairs have occurred with the Bheels at Peinth. A rising in the Konkan, below the Phonda Ghent, was reported, but the insurgents dispersed at the approach of a small detachment from Sawant Wane. H. L. ANDERSON, Secretary to Government. I Bombay Castle, Dec. 29, 1837. RAVEN. Trieste, Jan. 23, 2.30 p.m. THE BATTLE AT CAWNPORE. An officer, an eyewitness of the recent fighting at Cawnpore, gives the following graphic description of the affair. It will be seen that the rebels not only out.generalled us, but fairly beat us back from our position. Of course the numbers were in their favour as ten to one ; but still the result shows that these men are being beaten into generalship—not a desirable end where our success depends upon the skill and daring we exhibit, so as to compensate fully for the tremendous disproportion of force : The Trenches, Cawnpore, Dec. 4, 1857. Early, then, on the morning of the 20th of November we turned out at four a.m., and having been inspected by Generals Windham, Dupuis, and Attie (all of whom, by the bye, took notice of and spoke to me), we, the 82nd, B'fth, some Sikh cavalry, Rifles, and four or five guns, marched up the banks of the Ganges canal. About three miles on the other aide, the sharp whiz of the grape sal round shot commences, and we are for the first time Ist our life under fire. I am not going to describe all the different feelings, &a., which all people talk shoat r having experienced when just going into the fight, bat all I say is, that at that particular moment I would rather have been quietly smoking a cheroot at a comfortable distance off ; but then, at the smack of the rifle mingles with the boom of the cannon, and as with a British cheer we rash forward over the paddy fields to drive in the posi tion of the mutineers, the feeling chang. , s; we feel as if we are on wings, and begin to enjoy ourselves amazingly. And now fast and thick fly the musket balls of the enemy, and thick and fast fall those who are hit; but we don't look to the rear, it is all front work, and we keep going on alter the already retreating sepoys, until suddenly the cry of " Cavalry coming!" is raised, and quick as thought the 34th Queen's form square, and with one thundering volley we reddea the young rice before us with the blood of all but five. Then on again , • a little more grape, shell , and road, find but five. Then on again ; a little more grape, anon, ono uv r .— round shot, and we form on the Calpee road, find that we inviting him to send a force to liotalt. They attacked the i n come 000 more of oUr beat soldiers to India, then we _ have not lost any offloers, but plenty of men, and with p alac e , and seized the Minister. 100, THE EAST INDIA COMPANY. THE adjourned debate of the Court of Proprietors of the East India Company, upon the proposed transfer of the governing power to the Crown, was renewed on Wednesday last. Mr. Hanes vindicated the Company from the charge of annexation and war. Mr. Mims denied that the Company were in any way responsible for the recent delay in the trans mission of troops to India, and vindicated their policy and administration. The speech, however, which created the greatest interest was delivered by Sir HENRY Rswinisow, who had been somewhat severely handled by previous speakers for permitting himself to be nominated to a seat at a board the constitution of which he disapproved. Sir Henry replied happily to their attacks, and alluding to the petition of the East India Company read at the last meeting, then proceeded to discuss the point as to whether the transfer of the government of India to the Crown were not for the benefit of the country. Recurring to the present state of India, Sir Henry Rawlinson observed, that the great blot, the fors et origo mei, that to which the outbreak was to be proximately attnbnted, and that which constitutes our great and insurmountable difficulty at present, was, he honestly and firmly be lieved, the annexation of Oude. This, he maintained, was only to be attained by a proclamation of amnesty in the queen's name, as soon as "murder and re bellion had been punished with inflexible severity, and our military character completely vindicated ": I know that the feeling produced among the nobility of India by the annexation of Oude was one of the utmost alarm. They believed the measure to have been decided on and carried out in a pure spirit of cupidity and in defiance of treaties, and every independent ruler or land holder trembled forhis own possessions. The discontented nobility then cast about for means of injuring ns. The Bengal army, notorioas for its indiscipline, but previously untainted by disloyalty, offered itself a ready instrument to their hands. Oar revenue measures in Oude materially assisted them. There were petty chiefs' with grievances— some fancied and some real—in every district of the north west provinces. The present insurrection broke out, and we are far, very far, from seeing the end of it. I do not wish to take a gloomy, or at any rate a despainng view of our present position. We are no doubt surrounded by difficulties in India, but it is ander difficulties that the energies of oar character and the resources of our nation show to the greatest advantage. The present British forces in India are, however, manifestly unequal to cope with the emergency. They may re-establish our supremacy in the revolted presidency of the north-west, but they can hardly reconquer Oude. If we are content to pay a double income tax, as in the time of the Crimean war, and to send of best soldiers to India, then we