The Press. — London, England, 1857-10-17 00:00:00

Koer Singh's Palace, Jugdispore, Aug. 12. Sir,—l' have the pleasure to report the total rout of the rebel force under Koer Singh this day, by the force under my commad. The enemy mustered, as far as can be ascertained, about 3,000 strong, of whom 1,500 were sepoys. The action commenced at the village of Dulloor at eleven , where a strong position had been taken up and intrenchments raised. Here they matte a resolute stand for about an hour, when they fell back upon the dense and formidable jungle, which extends from thence about a mile and a half to Jugdispore ; a running tight was kept up to that place, which we entered in triumph at one o'clock, and immediately occupied Koer Singh's residence, where much promiscuous property fell into our hands. Two guns were captured in the action. Koer Singh has fled to the south, and I hear that his army is dispersing, and I trust the blow now struck may be the means of effectually destroying his influence. In my next I will give full details of my march from Arrah, and of the services performed by my force, making special mention of those who distinguished themselves. A return of killed and wounded shall be sent with my next despatch; our loss was trifling, that of the enemy severe. V. EYRE, Major. The gallant defence of the Residency at Arrah is worthy to be remembered. The official account from Mr. Wake, the magistrate in charge, published in these despatches, is exremely interesting. We had the pleasure of presenting it to our readers in our last issue under the head of "Arrah." "The Indian revolt," sums up the Bombay Times on the 17th Sept., " has not during the last fort night been marked by any very stirring events, and neither of the contending parties has gained any decisive advantage over the other." That is a fair estimate of the position from the military point of view. "No stirring events" have occunred, but the deep current of the rebellion runs swiftly yet through out the entire country. Fresh outbreaks, small in themselves, but in the aggregate showing the ten dency of popular feeling, are constantly occurring from the Punjaub to the confines of Bombay and Bengal. The Calcutta Englishman writes, that" so far from peace and good order being re-established, disorder and rebellion have extended to provinces which in June were perfectly traoquil." The greater part of Behar and thg south-western frontier of Bengal wore in confusion, and the important district of Goruckpdre has been abandoned by the order of this Government. The garrison of Lucknow has not been relieved, and it appears unlikely that our troops can reach it before the end of this month. " The mutineers and insurgents, though contemptible in the field, are so numerous as to throw great difficulties in the way of an advancing force, and the season in which every stream is overflowing and the country almost impassable is an additional obstacle to military operations. At this season, too, the exposure of a campaign inevitably produces much sickness, and our European soldiers have suffered severely from it. 'We expect some reinforcements during the present month, and by the end of October we may reasonably hope for the arrival of a force sufficient to put down rebellion in these provinces. Its fate in Upper India must be decided by troops sent up the Indus and the Punjaub levies. Order and obedience may then indeed be restored, and an entire new system adopted, whether military or civil. It is too soon to speculate upon the course that ought to be or will be pursued ; at present it is sufficient to record events which follow in such rapid succession, and which must ultimately determine the measures to be adopted. We observe that the home authorities boast of the slight depreciation which the rebellion has caused in Government securites. In the revolted districts Company's paper for the last three months has been sold at fifty to eighty-five per cent. discount! This, however, affords no criterion of public opinion, as mull so offered may either have been plundered from its rightful owners or been the property of those in open rebellion, to whom it was valueless. But here at the seat of Government and the centre of money transactions the fall has been steady and considerable. Five-per-cent. paper has been sold at twelve, and four-per-cent. paper at twenty-four per colt. discount, and no considerable sum could be disposed of even at a much lower rate." Delhi is not taken, and the rebels, so far from showing that amount of faintheartedness and fear constantly ascribed to them, marched out in force on the 24th of August to seize our siege train en route from Loodieanah, took a thrashing kindly from Briga dier General Nicholson the next da3, and, marching back to Delhi that night with the loss of twelve guns, next morning commenced a desperate assault in force upon our position. " They made no impression whatever upon us," is the report from our impreg nable heights, but their courage and spirit in making the attack after so hearty a thrashing the day pre vious, is not to be underrated. "Active operations" ag unst the city were expected to be undertaken on the arrival of the siege train, for Sir Colin Campbell, it i s said, had sent orders "to make short work of it." The King of Delhi, it was reported, had sent seoret overtures to Mr. Colvin, at Agra, offering to rH E PRESS, OCTOBER 17,1857. surrender if he might be permitted to maintain his rank and pension. The King also is said to have composed the following premature distich :—His Majesty prides himself upon his power of epigram. "The English, who had conquered ell India, were overthrown by a single cartridge." As coming from the Palace of Delhi, the epigram is happy, but inaccurate. The following despatches hava been received from Delhi : DELur, August 20.—Since the Nth there has been scarcely any firing : the enemy are said to be divided in their counsels, and dissension and ill feeling increasing among ihem. The wounded doing well, sickness not on the increase, supplies of all sorts plentiful. Mr. Probyn, collector of Futtehghur, wife and children, and Mr. Edwards, collector of Budaon, have been sent in to Cawnpore, safe and well, by Huldeao 13ux, from Limn rumpore. LAHORE, Aug. 25.—From the Camp before Delhi, 4 p.m., August 23.—Nothing of moment today. The mutineers still fire at intervals from guns from the opposite bank of the Jumna, but have done no harm. Aug. 20.—From Delhi, 4 p.m., Aug. 24.—Nothing of moment to report from this. Lieutenant Hodson has returned to camp with his party. Altogether, he has killed upwards of eighty insurgents, chiefly furlough men. All well at Agra on the 20th, and a part) preparing to start to Hattrase to disperse an insurgent gathering. Aug. 27.—The following is from Delhi, received yesterday :-4 p.m., Aug. 25.—A force of the enemy having been reported to have moved to Nuzuflghur, Brigadier- General Nicholson marched this evening to endeavour to bring them to action, with about 9,000 men and 10 guns. He had got over the most part of the ground by noon, when our last accounts left, but had not reached the mutineers. We have had heavy rain. 9 a.m., Aug. 20.—Brigadier-General Nicholson attacked the force of the enemy that had moved to Nuzuflghur yesterday evening and completely routed them, and captured all their guns, twelve in number. Our loss small, but Lieutenant Lumsden, of Coke's corps, one of the very best officers in the army, was unfortunately killed. Aug. 2g.—From Delhi, 4 p.m., Aug. 26.—General Nicholson's force will be back this evening. He captured in all 13 guns, besides the enemy's camp baggage. Our loss was about six killed and wounded, besides Lieutenant Lumsden, who was killed. Dr. Ireland, of the Artillery, was dangerously (it was feared mortally) wounded, and Lieutenant Gabbett, 61st Foot, wounded. The fugitives having returned to Delhi, an attack was commenced on our position at ten a.m. to.day. The mutineers came out in great force, apparently believing that we had but few troops left in camp. They have made no impression whatever on us, and have caused very few casualties. The following is from Delhi :-4 p.m., Aug. 27.—The total loss in General Nicholson's brigade on the 20th is seventeen killed and wounded, including Lieutenant Lumaden killed, and Lieutenant Gabbett, Olat Foot, who died of his wounds; Lieutenant Elkington, 61st, and Dr. Ireland, both dangerously wounded. The guns captured are one 24-pounder howitzer, two 12-pounder howitzers, two 9-pounder guns, four 6.pounder guns, and four 3-pounder brass guns of native manufacture. We have now secured all the guns of Mackenzie's troop, and Captains Kirby and De Tessier's batteries. The attack on our position yesterday ceased in the evening. Our loss yesterday was eight killed and twelve wounded. The enemy suffered to a much greater extent, thirty-seven dead soldiers being counted in one place. Their cavalry was well punished with the grape from the heavy guns in our centre battery. All well at Agra on the 21st. It is reported that the force under Bukht Khan, shich was routed by General Nicholson at Nuzuflghur, was evidently bent on intercepting the siege train by a flank march on Soneeput. It was composed of the 180 i, 28th, 29th, 08th, and 3rd Regiments Native Infantry, the Bth Irregular Cavalry, and detachments of the 13th and 14th, and eighteen guns, with all the arms, ammunition, brought from Bareilly. This force was to have been followed in a couple of days by the Neemuch brigade. It is probable, however, that a portion of the latter brigade was present at Nuzuffghur, as the guns of Mackenzie's troop belonged to it. LAHORE, Aug. 30.—From Delhi there was nothing of moment to report up to four p.m. of the 28th inst. General Cotton reports from Peshawur that out of 871 of the 51st Regiment 78.5 are " accounted for," and that the missing men are being brought in by twos and threes by the villagers and police. The force beaten by General Nicholson at Nuzuffghtir on the 26th appears to have been composed mainly of the Neemuch brigade, with a number of fanatics and others. The Robilcund brigade is said to have been four coss in the rear and unable to afford support. After the action G.neral Nicholson blew up and destroyed the bridge at Khurkonda. Lorom., Aug. 31.—N0 news from Delhi, or from any other quarter of importance. General Wilson awaits the siege train to resume offensive operations at Delhi. The insurgents appear a good deal depressed by the defeat at Nuzinighur; our troops have also obtained very considerable plunder, as the enemy still continue their Ramer practice of carrying their ill-gotten gains about them. LAnor.E, Sept. I.—Up to four p.m., 29th of August, nothing of moment had occurred at Delhi. P.S.—The following just reutived from Delhi :—Four p.m., 30th August. Last night, for the security of our working party, it was necessary to take some of the enemy's breastworks b:•tween our advanced pickets, the Sammy-house, and the town. This was done in the most gallant with a rush, the enemy havit►g about fourteen 1007 killed. Two mon of the 00th Rifles were killed in this attack. LAHORE, Sept. 2.—Nothing from Delhi by telegraph since ‘esterday. Letters state that the mutineer force routed by General Nicholson near Nuzuff4hur consisted of the Neemuch brigade and Kotah contingent, with a large body of cavalry, including the 13th and 14th Irregulars. All in camp in Delhi elated at the prospect of offensive operations against the city; considerable progress made on the night of the 29th ult. in clearing ground to oar right front. Enemy allowed a trench to be made from the advanced post on the right to the ravine, forming a natural parallel, without molestation, but now (on the 30th) they appear too late to have discovered the mischief it portends. All quiet in Rajpootana, and Jeypore has sent in its tribute. LkHORE, Sept. 3.—There is nothing further from Delhi, most probably owing to the heavy rain. There is a report from Delhi that on the 31st ult. twentytwo carts, laden with the families of the residents, had left for newarree, and that numbers were daily leaving the city. J. D. MACPHERsoN, Lieuten an t• C olonel, Military Secretary to the Chief Commissioner. The following was published at Calcutta by Go vernment : From General Neill, Cawnpore, Sept. 6. To the Governor- General and Commander•in•Chief. Delhi, August 26.—Nicholson went out yesterday, attacked the Bareilly and Neewuch division, trying to get in our rear two miles from Nuzuffghur, drove them off—captured twelve field pieces. Part rallied again near Escape•bridge ; rebels driven over it at the point of the bayonet, an I routed completely. They lost all their ammunition, equipage, and baggage, and the day con. cluded with blowing up the bridge. Lumsdeo, of Coke's corps, and Dr. Ireland, killed. Our casualties about forty. The Delhi detachment against Hisser has been three times defeated by Cortlandt. The last paragraph is of some importance, as showing the strength and pertinacity of the rebels, who required three defeats to repel them from Ilissar. General Van Cortlandt, by the last mail, was reported to have entirely stamped out the rebellion in the neighbourhood of Hansi and Hissar. A report from Lieutenant Mild:nay, Assistant Politi cal Agent, on deputation with a force of his Highness the Maharajah of Bikaneer, has been received of another action fought at Hissar on the 19th inst. An insurgent force of upwards of 2,000 men, horse and foot, under Mahomed Azeem, attempted to sur prise the gates of the town of Hissar about half-past ten a.m. A timely alarm was however given, and Lieutenant Mildmay and his officers immediately arranged his small force to repel the attack. His force consisted of a company of the 3rd Punjaub Police Battalion, " Kuttar Mookhees," 100 of the Punjaub mounted police from Googaria, and about 500 horsemen, under Mulluk Futteh Shere Khan Tawauah, Surfuraz Khose, Esau Kharie, and Kumal Ooddeen Kussooree, with a portion of the Bikaneer body-guard. The assailants weie not only repulsed, but pursued and totally routed, leaving 300 dead bodies on the ground. Lucknow, up to Sept. 2nd, still held out, and every hope exists that the garrison will now be relieved. A letter from Benares, 30th August, says,—"The assault on Lucknow has been repulsed with great loss to the Ghazees and insurgents. The garrison have beef and plenty of grain." Another letter from an officer with General Have lock's force, received Sept 2, says : The sepahee of my regiment has again come in from Lucknow ; be left all well there, and says they have lots of provisions ; the news has quite elated me. The rebels blew up a mine ; our people after some fighting sallied out, and honed materials fur repairing the breach, which is all secure again. Another letter from Cawnpore, received Sept. 9th, mentions that further intelligence had been received from the garrison of Lucknow, stating that they were quite well and hearty, and had no apprehensions whatever. " They made another sortie, took and spiked two guns which had annoyed them greatly, and succeeded in securing lots of provisions." On the 7th September a telegraphic despatch received from General Neill reported " that the besieged at Lucknow undermined a house, in which a number of Gazees were located, who had given great trouble, and blew the whole of them into the air. The garrison sallied out, spiked the 24 pounder which had greatly annoyed them, took a number of bullocks, and brought them into their intrench ment." The last intelligence is from General Neill, Cawn pore : News from Lucknow of Sept. Residency Guard all right. Enemy's two heavy guns disabled, and they eau neither fire nur move them. Instructions had been conveyed to the garrison to hold out to tha last, and with the fate of their comrades at Cawnpore we may rely upon their doing so. If it is true that they are well provided with provisions we may hope for the best. Death had been active among the little band. Out of 500 men only 350 were left, and these were encumbered with ! the care of as many women and children.