The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-06-08 00:00:00

THE BRITISH ARMY IN INDIA.

TOORAH CAMP, on the trunk road, 30 miles from
Cawnpore. April 20.—The l'imea correspondent says,
for the last two days there were rumours in Cawnpore
that we had received • cheek in Oude, and although
they are not quite cotroborated, it must be admitted
that the affair whieh gave rise to those rumonrs has
been ill•managed, unfortunate, and to a certain extent
disastrous, inasmuch as it has cost the country and the
service the life of one of the very best officers in the
British army, as well as those of ninny gallant men.
It appears that in the course of his march from Luck.
now, Bri7adier Walpole, commanding the column, which
started on the 10th towards Rohilound, mune upon one
of the many forte in which Oude abounds on the 14th
inst. The place is called Rliodatnow ; it is • more high
wall enclosing some houses, with loopholes for musketry
some irregular bastions at the angles, and two gates,
both on the same face of the work. Brigadier 'Aral.
pole's column was a complete army in itself, consisting
of 5,000 or 6,000 British infantry, oavalry, field and
siege guns, and mortars. As he advanced in the neigh-
bourhood of this fort, which was placed in • jungle, he
heard that • body of 1,500 of the enemy had thrown
themselves into the place, and without, as it would ap•
pear, obeying the instructions he had received, and the
general orders forbidding any attack on such positions
except with heavy artillery, the Brigadier ordered or
permitted an attack, which was completely unsuccess-
ful. Part of the 42nd Highlanders and of the 4th
Punjab regiment ( Wyld's) proceeded to ths assault, but
they were received with such a tremendous fire from
an almost unseen enemy that they were unable
to continue their advance, and as Brigadier Adrian
Hope was engaged under the very walls in restoring
order and getting the men together to retire he was
shot dead by a klepoy from above. Bromley and Doug-
las of the 42nd regiment were also killed. Willoughby,
of the Punjabees, a most excellent officer was struck
down never to rise again; and Cope of the same
regiment, and Cockburn of the 42nd, were severely
wounded. Of the 96 men of the Punjab regiment there
wore 46 killed and wounded, and in the 42nd Highlanders
there were in • short time 55 casualties. Brigadier
Walpole then brought up his artillery and began to shell
the place, but so badly was the investing operation eon-
ducted that in the course of the night the enemy were
enabled to evacuate the place without molestation,
although the gates, as I have said, were both on the
same face of the work, and when we entered next morn-
ing all we found were the bodies of three &goys, some
ratta, dour, and it is said, live guns. Had the whole of

the enemy been destroyed it would have been but
sorry oompensation for the lose of Adrian Hope.
—officers and men were uselessly sacrificed, and their
loss was not avenged. At the very moment that the
Sikhs and the 42nd were desperately clambering tip the
walls of the fort, helping each other up by hand and leg
and firelock, and just as they were getting at the enemy,
they were recalled, and in their retreat they suffered as
much as in the attack. It is stated that there was •
passage where the cavalry could have got in, but that
tiny were not premitted to make the attempt. The men
were furious at the repulse and clamoured loudly to be
led to the assault. The Sikhs had lost Willoughby, and
Cope was wounded. The 93rd had lost Adrian Hope.
The 42nd left the bodies of Bramley, Douglas and many
gallant comrades behind them. In the middle of the
fight Adrian Hope, ever regardless of his own
life where the lives of his soldiers were coneerned
rushed to the wall of the fort to withdraw
the men. His aide.de-camp Butter said to him, " The
fire is very hot, General.' As he spoke the Brigadier
fell, shot from above through the neck, shoulder, and
lungs. Ho said, "They have done for me. Remember
nie to my friends," and died in a few seconds. At the
funeral, which wee most affecting, the 93rd wept like
children for their beloved Colonel. There wee not a
dry eye in Bratulay's Company as his body was borne to
the grave. His body and that of Douglas were re-
covered by the most daring gallantry, which will not, I
trust go unrewarded. When the men retired, Simpson,
the livartermsetereergeant, hearing that two onion
re we eft on the ground, rushed out to the ditch of the
work, and, seizing the oorpee of poor Bramley, brought
it in on his shoulders. He next started out and re-
covered the body of Douglas in the IMMO way, and then
undeterred by the imminent fusillade of the enemy, this
gallant soldier again and again renewed his labours, and
never awed till he had carried in the bodiee o eve
more of his ootnrarles. Two men were killed in attempt.
lug to imitate this noble soldier. Doel he not well de.
serve the Victoria CNN I

CHINA.
The nowt from China is of loins Wired. LOA Elgin
was at Shanghai. He roosted .deputation of inerohante
on the 29th of &Lerch, and replied to an addreee from
them, He maid that ids inetruotions originally gave
hins a wide diecretion. It had been since so widened, as
to leave him to sot in a great measure on his own udg.
mint. He had never receded from hie just and mode.
rate demand on the Chinese. He was ready to repeat in
the vioinity of Pekin the experiment made at Canton—
if necessary. In this policy lie could count upon the 00.
, (mention of the Francis, and the goodwill of the other
Powers. But when form and diplomaoy had done their
part, the work would be only as It. oomutencement,
Christian 401113'01°n would have to win It. way among
a soeptioal and ingenious people. He hoped the mar.
Amite would give him their aid and enable him to judge
eorreotly of the uueee that have giros Shanghai Its
eminent position among the porta opened to bride in
China, Lord Elgin and all the ministers go to Teenteln,
there to negoolaie with the Goverment at Pe kin.