The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-19 00:00:00

THE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 19, 1857.

found the rebels in position at Futteypore, with twelve
guns. On Sunday, the Nth inst., we arrived within two
miles of their position, at about seven o'clock; I was sent
out with a party of our men (Ist Madras Fusiliers) to re-
connoitre, but when we had advanced about half a mile
from the camp they commenced firing on us with their
heavy guns, and their cavalry came towards us. We fired
on them, but, as our party consisted of about silty men,
we retreated leisurely towards the camp. As soon as we
got there the whole force was under arms. This was
about seven o'clock, a.m. We now advanced regularly
against them, and in about three hours we drove them
from their position, took twelve guns, and drove them from
Futteypore pell-mell. If we had only had some cavalry we
could have cut them nearly all up. We halted the other
side of Futteypore that day, and also the next morning.
On Tuesday we marched sixteen miles to Kullianpore, but
did not meet with the enemy. On ‘Vednesday we marched
about five miles, and found the rebels in a strong position,
with six guns. We soon silenced their guns, and advanced
against them, and, after about two hours sharp firing, we
thoroughly routed them, and they retreated to a bridge about
three miles off, where they had another very strong posi-
tion, with six guns. Our Enfields did splendid work, and
we soon silenced their battery. I was in front with the
skirmishing party all day. We rushed up to their battery
and took their bridge and guns, when they all fled before
us like so many sheep ; they really are arrant cowards.
Thus ended our day's work. Poor Major Renaud, who
commanded our detachment, was wounded early in the
morning in the leg; he is now better, but I fear his leg
will be obliged to be amputated ; he is a very gallant
officer. I was with him at the time, but he would not
allow me to remain, but said " do on with your men."
On Thursday we marched against the enemy, about
6,000 strong, who were in position about five miles from
Cawnpore, and this was the hardest day's work we ever
had. They had six or eight guns, in two separate batteries.
NVe advanced straight against them, and they poured grape
and round shot into us, like so many hailstones, yet our
loss was not very great. We lay down, and then advanced
against their first battery, which was taken in fine style. I
went off' with a small party (about forty men) to the right
flank, where the cavalry were threatening us, and some of
their infantry had a strong position. We kept them al a
distance with our rifles, and once, when some of the
cavalry (about 500) came down upon us, we formed square,
and they did not dare come near us. This elicited great
applause from the general and everybody. My party then
joined the main column, and we now advanced against the
other battery. When we came within range down poured
the round shot and grape. We were ordered to lie down,
but the scoundrels had got their distance so well that
several were wounded. Six !nee of her Majesty's 04th
Regiment were killed, and poor Captain Currie, of the 81th,
severely wounded by a round shot. We had several men
wounded. I bad a bullet on my topie (felt hat) which
providentially glanced off, and Captain Raikes had a por
tion of his swordhilt carried away. Well, fancy! when
they saw us down again they thought we were afraid to
advance, so they sounded the advance, and then the double.
The general ( Havelock) now gave his order—" Rise up ;
advance !" The whole line gave a cheer—such a cheer
it must have made the villains tremble from head to foot,
and advanced in line against their battery•, under a heavy
cross fire, which they kept up very well, but did not do us
much damage, as they fired s.) high. They evacuated their
bAttery, and fled in every direction. We fired into them
till they were out of range, and then rushed up the hill,
and found, to our joy, Cawnpore about half a mile in front.
We bivouacked on the rising ground for the night. You
should have heard the cheer we gave as our gallant coin-
mender, General Havelock, rode down the lines ; it was
indeed a tine sight. He on every occasion praises our
men, and is going to make a special report of us to the
commander-in-chief. Only fancy our horror on hearing
that the same night we gave them such a heating at
Futteypore, they killed, or rather massacred, all the
ladies whom they hitherto had spared in Cawnpore (ex-
cept five or six who were concealed by their native
servants). Miss Wheeler, the daughter of Sir H. Wheeler,
they say, killed five of these fiends with a revolver before
they could get near her. What an heroic spirit she must
have had. The sight of the place where these
_pour
ladies were murdered is indeed awful. Long tresses of
hair—dresses covered with blood—here and there a work-
box or bonnet.

All the bodies are in a well. I hope we shall be able to
bury them, and pay the last honour to their remains.
The few that are still liming are all more or less ill, and
dreadfully weak. You may imagine their delight on
seeing us. They were nll along in a dreadful state of
mind, as they were afraid that their servants might be
tempted to betray them ; but, for once, these natives did
not. Ought they not to be rewarded ? To our great re-
gret we heard yesterday that Sir H. Lawrence died about
a week ago. We go on to-morrow to Lucknow, which is
about fifty miles from Cawnpore. We cross the river
Ganges to o—, after first taking an intrenched
position which the enemy occupy at Bhitoor, about three
miles up this bank of the Gauges. This is the Nana's own
village ; he is intrenched with twenty-four guns, of which
we shall make short work to-morrow, and then go on
direct to Lucknow, which we hope to reach in three days.
The barracks which were occupied by Sir H. Wheeler are
regularly riddled with shot, so you may imagine low well
he held out. Brigadier-General Neill is coming to us with
another column of 1,1100 men from Allahabad; be had
already lett, or will leave immediately; we are all very sorry
he is not with us.

The following official despatch was partially given
in our la-4 account :

From Brigadier• General liavelcek. dated Cawnpors Canton•
went. Jule :7.
By the blessing of God 1 recaptured tt.le place yesterday. and
totally defeated Nana Sahib iu person, ttking mire than six
suns, (our of siege ware. The enemy were Mr.ingly posted