The Press. — London, England, 1857-09-12 00:00:00

..,~-,, illE REBELLION IN INDIA. 13 THE most interesting accounts, from private sources, of the rebellion in India, continue to be published. The character of the communications is of the same general nature as previous letters from our gallant officers and the various sufferers. The neglect of the authorities and the strange absence of foresight shown are more clearly brought forward than ever. On the other hand, the sublime fortitude and heroic endurance of our brave countrymen, and the cruel sufferings of our fair countrywomen, are vividly depicted. An officer of artillery, writing from Mhow, July 23, remarks : Since I last wrote to you we have had some very hard work. On the Ist of this month the troops broke out at lndore, fourteen miles from here. We were ordered out with our battery, but when we had gone seven miles and a half, news came that the insurgents had taken another road, so we returned and found the station in great alarm ; some of the rebels had brought up two guns while we were away, but they were taken by the cavalry. Two of our horses dropped down dead just as we came in, so you may imagine the rate at which we went there and back, having six horses to each gun and six to the waggon. After dinner we were ordered to clear out of the barracks into the arsenal, and we got most of the things in by dark. About half-past eight p.m. one of the native infantry officers came galloping in, saying that the regiment was up; in came another from the cavalry with the same story. Our horses were so knocked up that we placed the guns inside, so as to play through the gate in case of an attack. We had forty of the native infantry on guard inside. Next up came Colonel Platt and said they were outside, and the battery must be brought out. We could not, for it takes half an hour to put in horses and get ready. The first thing we did was to disarm the guard we had inside, which was done promptly; we found every man with his piece loaded, and some of them with three balls. There was only one shot fired on our side, and not one on theirs; the reason of this was we had them in front of our guns and could have sent them to " kingdom come " in no time. During the time this was going on Colonel Platt rushed outside along with one of the officers of his regiment and tried to persuade them to come back. We were ordered to fire; the portfires were lit; and as soon as they saw that sway they went, so we had no firing inside. It was a great pity the old colonel was in the gateway, or we should have mown them down nicely with grape. I must not forget to mention that Colonel Platt was like a father to the men, and when he had an opportunity of leaving them and join. ing a European corps last summer the men petitioned him to stay. He had been upwards of thirty years with them, and when the riot took place he had so much confi dence in them that he rode up to their lines before we could get out. When we found him next morning both cheeks were blown off, his back completely riddled with balls, one through each thigh, his chin smashed into his mouth, and three sabre cuts between the cheek bone and temple ; also a cut across the shoulder and the back of the neck. Two others were killed, one native Indian and one cavalry officer—total three. I never saw such mangled bodies in my life, and never wish to see the like again. Had the colonel not been so rash we should not have lost a man. But lam wandering from my story when the battery was ready away we went, the blaze from the officers' quarters serving to light us on our way; as we were going there were several shots fired at us, but we could not see the offenders, as they generally came from the backs of houses, &c. However, when we got into their lines balls came pretty fast, so we unlimbered and gave them three rounds of grape and round shot, from five 91b. guns and one 241 b. howitzer. As soon as the first round was fired they fled to the other side of the river. We then came back to our little garrison, but got no sleep that night. We have been hard at work ever since. The first four nights and days we got no rest. My face and arms are skinned, the same as if they had been scalded, and my lips are at the present moment one mass of scabs with the heat of the sun. We are hanging all we can get hold of; the gallows is just in front of one of our siege batteries. We have mounted 12 heavy guns—six in front and four in rear, also one in front of each battery inside, so that if they take the outside ones they will have to come through a gateway up to the muzzles of our 18 guns. In all we have 24 guns, from 9to 24 pounders. The inside of the place is like a fair; it is not much more than 200 yards square, and we have all our horses, bullocks, carts, carriages, furniture, itc. He predicts for us anything but a speedy settlement of the country : Mark my words, there will be great bloodshed in this country before long. There are old soldiers here who say this is twenty times worse than auy cam. paign, for t his reason, we do not know the mo ment we may he attacked by the insurgents, or yet their number. You may be glad of this letter, for it is a great chance when you may get another, for they stop and rob the mail. Keep up your spirits and trust in God. I am sure He will not forsake those who trust in Him. have seen His hand put forth in our defence already, and I thank God for our escape. Another thing, the rains stopped, and we have had none since in here we came, only one shower ; before the row commenced the rain came down in torrents. This massacre has sickened all Europeans, and set them against this country and the black bloo d that is in it. I shall never like a black man again. We have had already many particulars of the siege of Delhi, but a sergeant of the 60th Rifles, THE PRESS, SEPTEMR 12, 1857. - - writing from " Camp, Guznee -de Nuggur," gives tome details which are interesting. Under date of une 3rd, he writes : We left Meerut on the 27th ult. Our force was 400 rank and file, 24 sergeants, 12 buglers, and about 20 officers of our battalion, 200 troopers of the 6th Dragoon Guards, one battery and halts troop of artillery — of all ranks under 1,000 ; arrived here on the morning of the 30th. At about four the same day the insurgents took up a most capital position, about a mile from our camp, and commenced operations with some very heavy guns. My company," D," was ordered in advance, got under a wall, and returned the fire in first-rate order. I fired the first shot on our side. We remained under cover and un supported for about half an hour, when the remainder of our boys came up at the double, and our captain was ordered to charge the guns. Off we galloped. They sent several rounds of grape and canister into us, but we dodged them. As soon as we saw the explosion down we went flat on our faces, and up, off, sad down again before we cculd say " Jack Robinson." We got up to the guns, drove the niggers to the devil, and thought we were all right, when off went their ammunition. They bad put a slow match to it. Our captain (J. Andrews) and four men were killed by the explosion, and several wounded. We captured the 24• pounder siege gun and five others. Their field batteries they took away. They next took up their position in front of a large walled village, and fought like devils. We drove them into the village and set fire to it. We were obliged afterwards to go through the fire and drive them out. At last we broke them. A small band, about thirty, got together at the back of the village, and stood their ground till the whole were killed. They actually crossed bayonets with ours, and met their death like Trojans. We returned to camp about nine p.m. At two o'clock the next day they came out again, and fought the same battle over again. We drove them from their position, and that was all. They numbered about 6,0(X), with a great many guns. Their cavalry charged oar guns over and over again. Both men and officers who have fought side by side with them say they could not have imagined that any of the native troops could have fought so well. I had several very narrow escapes, but one particularly so. In the village I went into a but ; one of the gents was behind the door ; as soon as I showed my nose he made a chop. I twigged him in time, took a step to rear, fired through the door, and cooked his goose. The officer commanding my company, Lieutenant Napier, the second day was shot in the leg, which has since been amputated. [This gallant young officer died after two days' lingering pain.] We expect to join the forces of the officiating commander-in-chief to-day or to-morrow. As soon as that takes place we're off for Delhi ; no quarter to be given, as they give us none. We were obliged to shoot their wounded. They fought more desperately when hurt than when whole. We picked up several of our old rifles, which were lodged in the Delhi magazine. Delhi Fort now mounts upwards of 150 heavy guns and field pieces innumerable, ammunition, shot, and shell in abun dance, so that we may expect rather warm work. The Commander-in-Chief Anson died of cholera at Kurnaul about ten days ago. General Barnard is officiating. We have been reinforced this morning by 100 rank and file of ours from Meerut, and the Ghoorka regiment (natives) from the hills, 600 men. On account of the difficulty in procuring carriage we could only bring one change of clothing, and no white outer clothing. We are wearing the same as we did on Christmas-day, and what we have is as ragged as it can be ; bolting through brambles and briars does not much improve one's outward appearance. Our greatest difficulty is in procuring water, and what we do get is very bad. The river is so very muddy that we cannot possibly use it. In case of accidents 1 have written a letter, which you will only receive iu the event of my getting a " gooser." My initials are on the outside of the envelope. have written this squatting on the ground ; we don't deal in tables, and I must leave off for a sleep, as we expect a row this evening. I inclose a copy of our battalion order after the actions, also a rough plan of the battle field. The foregoing letter has great force and freshness, and is important in many respects. It testifies to the courage and resources of the enemy with whom we have to grapple. The statement, also, " are now wearing the sante clothes as we did on Christ mas-day," is most significant. It proves that the universal neglect of the requirements of the army in ammunition extends to other important points. Under date of 14th June, writing from " The Camp before Delhi," the same writer supplies the following graphic account of a skirmish : The Rifles were ordered to advance in skirmishing order, which we did in fine style, and by an able flank movement, which does our commanders who planned it the greatest credit, we took possession of the whole range, captured the guns, and drove the enemy into the city. It was fine sport for our fellows. We kept behind the rocks as we advanced, and all the niggers could see was the flash of our pieces. Our first point is to look out for cover—up a tree, behind a tree or rock, in a hole, or, in fact, any. where where we can see without being seen. We took and shot two Europeans this day; one of them confessed that there were ten more in the service of the King of Delhi. Captured seventeen guns this day, with a very large store of ammunition, shot, &c. They came out in great force at seven p.m. the same day and tried very hard to dislodge us, but it was "no go." They have been out six times since, driven back with great loss each time. They are getting reinforcements every day; the 60th Native Infantry and 4th Native Regular Lancers joined them from the waterside the day before yesterday, at two p.m., and gave ns as tight a fit as we have had yet. If it 885 had not been for a stratagem I think they would have taken our heavy guns and ammunition. Our colonel ordered us to hide just as it was getting dusk, and then he sounded the " reti►e ;" the " niggers," who, of course, know our bugle sounds as well as we do, thinking that we had actually gone back, came up at the double in thou• sands, all of a mob. When about twenty yards distance it was " Up, boys, and at them." They were greatly as• tonished, and cut their sticks as fast as they could. I have had a slight bayonet wound in the right side, and a ball through the sleeve of my jacket. The old soldiers who were at Mooltan, Goojerat, and other battles in India, say that this far surpasses anything they have ever witnessed. Our siege guns have been at work since the 9th, but as yet they have not displaced a brick. Our fire is anything but good, while the shots of the enemy are flying about our batteries like hail. The following details, under date of June 17th, from the same pen, are curious : On the 19th the enemy were reinforced with one regi• ment of infantry and one troop of artillery. During the day their whole force made a wide circuit and got within a mile of the rear of our camp before they were discovered. The artillery and cavalry went out to check them ; three oompaniea of our battalion were the first infantry force on the field. After a very hard fight, which lasted till ten p.m., we were obliged to retire for the night ; owing to the dark ness, the 73th and one of our guns fired three rounds into our company. We had one officer killed, two wounded, and about thirty men killed and wounded. Some of the wounded could not be found ; they were picked up the next morning most horribly mutilated. Two of them (one a married man with a large family) were skinned. We went out the next morning (20th), but they retired after a heavy artillery action. The weather is very hot. I had twelve hours' outpost duty on a plain, without the slightest shelter. I felt during the day as if I had a hot iron guing into my head. We have had a few deaths from cholera the last day or two. 1,000 men are expected in h3urly. As soon as they arrive we assault. We tried it once, hut it was no go, information having been given to the Rajah. Our rations, with the exception of ruin and bread, are very bad—indeed, scarcely eatable. We get a gallon of rum to every thirteen men, and sometimes a gallon to ten, with a pound of bread each man daily. We should be a long time starving on that. The rations cost, including the rum, five annas—about 7d. per diem. Information has just been received that the bridge of boats has been burned, so that we are now entirely cut off. 1 am hard up for paper, and can't buy any. As in the case of the Crimean war, these sergeants write well and to the purpose. They seize the strong points with great quickness, and skip irrelevant details. There is a healthy tone in their letters, and their literary composition rAlects great credit on them. Many of our cotaitrywomen in " the happy homes of England" will doubtless sympatlii,e with the feelings of the writer of the following letter. It is dated from " Agra, European Barracks, June lith." Its style is enough to prove that it comes from "a lady" : Until there is certainty of your receiving our letter there is little use in writing any full account of the terrible doings of the past fortnight; but God, in His infinite mercy, has spared ali those dear to you. Our precious little God, in His mercy, removed from us the very night (Saturday, the 13th, at eight o'clock) before we bad to fly from Gwalior. Poor little baby, it was a bitter grief to us to lose him, but we felt that God, in His great goodness, had taken him to Himself, and spared him from suffering on the road, as he could not have lived. Oh, how he suffered, dear, dear little pet ; he was so patient ; but his last day was one of peace, and he passed away as if in a deep sleep—how different that peaceful scene to what followed on the following night. must not lengthen this out, but only say that on Sunday, the 14th, at nine o'clock at night, all the troops at Gwalior broke out in open mutiny, burning the bungalows and slaying every officer they could find. Many good, kind men were brutally murdered before their wives. As it was mercifully ordained, I, after dear little D—'s death, went over to the M—'s house, which is on the banks of the river, and thence we all escaped toi.clier, and fled to the city, and through the kindness of the Maharajah our selves, with several others,found our way into Agra, where we now are, all well, think God. We have lost everything we ever possessed, arriving here with only the few torn clothes we had on us; many of us without even shoes or stockings. We are in the barracks, and, in case of Agra being attacked, have the fort to fly to. We have great reason for thankfulness that our lives are spared. It is no use writing more, as you may never see this. Both human as well as maternal feelings are exhi bited in the following extract from a later letter by the same writer : Oh ! how anxiously we are looking for the arrival of more regiments. Delhi has not yet fallen. Our small army has been now one month before the city, and we hope daily to hear that our troops have entered it. Nearly every regiment that has mutinied has immediately started off for Delhi ,so you may imagine what overwhelming forces our few troops have had to contend with Would that I could see you; how much I have to say; the events i of the last two months would take me a day to relate. The Gwalior regiments have not advanced on Agra, as we at first apprehended they would, but are busy fighting over the spoil. It Is rather hard to think that we hare los