The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-05 00:00:00

THE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 5, 1857.

and the guns we were protecting, and cut down several of
our volunteer horsemen : we bad to form our company into
three sides of a square and stand till they came at us, but
they never did. Our loss was very great-30 killed, and 3
officers and 92 men wounded, of whom $ have since died,
and 2 others of sunstroke today. The artillery lost 3
killed and 17 wounded, among whom were 2 officers, poor
D'Oyley ( since dead) and Captain Lamb, whose recovery
is most doubtful. Of the militia and volunteers 0 were
killed and 18 wounded, of whom H were officers and
civilians. Total loss :—killed or died of wounds, 51;
wounded, 90; out of about S(X) engaged. Is not this a
bloody action for our first essay ? The enemy's loss is said
by themselves to have been over 500, and we spiked one of
their guns. Fancy, in the village the women loaded the
men's muskets and handed them to the men to fire. Soon
after we returned to the fort the whole of the bungalows
( houses) were in flames, and a grand sight it was, too.
The enemy, we hear, expected we had gone back for ammu-
nition and were coming out against them next day, and so
off they bolted and went in the direction of Muttra, and
never came on here at all.

Another officer, attached to the 2nd Cavalry, adds :

The battle of Shahgunge lasted about two hours ; we suc•
ceeded in taking the village, but having run short of ammu-
nition (not another shot being left to fire from the guns)
we retired into cantonments, and then into the fort of Agra.
Our loss was forty-nine killed and ninety-one wounded—
very heavy indeed, one in three.
We were obliged to come into the fort immediately after
the action, as the instant our backs were turned to go out
to give battle to the rebel force at Shahgungo the villains
in the city of Agra set fire to nearly every bungalow,
barrack, and church in the place, and it would be difficult
to give you a correct description of the scene which pre-
sented itself at night, the whole place being in a blaze,
more nearly resembling a scene in the P,•ophete than any-
thing I can think of. The whole seems a war of extermi-
nation of all Europeans in India, and a blessed thing it
will be when European regiments come out to assist us.
We are now shut up here, ',AR/ fighting men with ammuni-
tion, and about 4,000 or 5,000 altogether, eagerly awaiting
the arrival of European troops.

Numerous other letters give details of the battle,
and one writer gives a touching incident. Poor
D'Oyly, mortally wounded, refused to be carried
from the field, but sitting propped up on a tumbril
gavo his orders with coolness and decision. "When
I am gone," he said, " place a stone over my grave,
and say I died fighting my guns to the last." This
is but ono instance of the heroism which animates
our officers and men.

The fort of Agra is well provisioned" for 6 months,"
says one writer; but then their fighting men aro few,
and hence their position not without hazard.
The enemy, after burning the town and canton-
ments, retired towards Bhurtpore, a fortress long
since dismantled, but capable of being restored to its
original strength by judicious labour. Bhurtpore in
1805 cost Lord Lake 3,000 men killed in four
disastrous assaults. In 1826 it was taken by Lord
Combermere after six weeks of open trenches by an
assault, which cost us 550 killed and wounded. The
mud walls may yet witness a third no less dangerous
and tedious siege.
With regard to the rest of the important intelli-
gence brought by this mail, the l'unjaub appears less
quiet than is generally asserted. At Jhelum the
14th Bengal Native Infantry broke out ;n open
mutiny on an attempt being made to disarm them,
shot several British officers and soldiers, and
finally escaped to the Cashmere frontier. Sir John
Lawrence, anxious to prevent their gaining an en-
trance into Cashmere, had despatched a strong force
to Puklee, where it was believed 700 mutineers were
assembled.

At Sealkote also, on the 9th July, a serious
mutiny broke out in the 46th Native Infantry, and
the 9th Bengal Cavalry. Several officers were mur-
dered, the stations burned, and the rebels started off
for Delhi. Sir John Lawrence, at Lahore, instantly
despatched Brigadier Nicholson in pursuit. On the
12th he caught them on the banks of the Ravee-
Trimmoo

About nine this morning information was received that
the Sealkote mutineers were crossing at Trimmoo by a
ford. In about ten minutes the column was in motion,
and reached within a mile of Trimmoo by twelve o'clock ;
the column here deployed, the nine guns covered by the
infantry. All this time we could distinctly see the 411th
formed in line, in front of us, with the 9th Cavalry on either
flank. They had also videttes far out. watching, who fell
back as we advanced; when within SOO yards of the enemy
our guns were unmasked. Thus we advanced within 300
yards, when the order was given to unlimber the guns, but
not to fire, as Nicholson wished to commence with the
Enfield rifles of the 52nd, who were placed between the
guns. I really am not sure whether the first shot was fired
by us or by them, I rather think the latter, but there was
it very smart interchange between their muskets and our
rifles for two or three minutes, when our guns opened first
with round shot, then with grape. Scarcely had our guns
opened when the cavalry charged, not from the front, but
from the right flank, into the guns on that side, and
caused no little contusion, but were cut or shot down.
Then we had a charge of cavalry on our flank and rear.
There was a good deal of scrimmaging and pistolling. No
sooner was this got over than the Pandys charged manfully
at our guns, and came, I suppose, within forty or even

thirty-five yards. The Europeans could not stand this,
but with a cheer they went at them with the bayonet. Two
or three Pandys had bayonets through them in no time, and
the rest turned and tied. The Oth Punjaub Infantry then
advanced and drove them across the Ravee, leaving their
camp and all their loot on the river bank on this side.
They had a gun on the other side, from which they began
pounding us with round shot, and though not one told yet
the gun was, considering th a distance, mighty well served,
nor can we imagine who they had to serve it. Two or
three of our guns were brought to the river side, and plied
them with round shot and shell, some of the latter evidently
bursting among the enemy and taking effect. While this
game at long bowls was going on Nicholson went to have a
look at their camp, at which the Sikhs flew like vultures.
There were three or four gharees of sorts; I took shelter
in one for half an hour, and bathed my head with eau de
Cologne, a botttle of which I found, and qualified the
Itavec water with essence of ginger, which I also found.
Nicholson felt sadly the want of cavalry, and the enemy
made the most of this deficiency on our part. Their
tactics were admirable. They attacked us on both flanks
and in rear, which they could not have done had we had
100 reliable horse. Their crossing the Rime at Trimmoo
is unintelligible, unless it be that their information about
the moveable column was defective.
They have retired to the other side again, and still have
the gun, which does not seem to have been brought over.
I am inclined to think that the whole of their baggage had
not come over ; they are watched of course. lioswell with
the Sikhs has been left at the Serai at Trimmoo, which the
scoundrels have damaged very much.—Prirale Letter.

On the 15th the brigadier, finding tlism strongly
posted on an island in the Ritvee, under cover of his
artillery landed the sth on the island, carried the
position, and destroyed the mutineers almost to a
man.

The following letter from a young civilian in the
Punjaub district describes the beginning of the
mutiny and the conveyance of the first news of it to
the late General Anson :
Camp, Dadoopore, June 21.
You know we had a alight row at Umbelhill on Sunday,
the 10th of May—the same day that the Meerut riw took
place. But s e were more fortunate than the people at
Meerut, though we had not so large a European force.
Both the infantry (native) regimenti came out without
orders, and, after threatening to shoot some of their
officers, were persuaded to return to their lines by the
presence of the artillery with lighted portfires, and of the
9th Lancers (Europeans). On Monday we received the
painful news of what was going on at Delhi. It was
heartrending to know that our countrymen and couutry-
women were actually being murdered at the very moment
we received the intelligence. The news came in by
electric telegraph. There was something pitiable in the
message of some three lines—" Mutineers from Meerut
come in, massacreing every European. We must stop!"
That " We must stop " was the most grievous sentence I
had ever read. So passed Monday; all quiet with us.
Towards afternoon we received another message, mention-
ing the names of some of the unfortunates.
On Tuesday came the news from Meerut, which took
longer in coming, as it had to come by post instead of
telegraph. But it was not a quiet night that we
passed at Umballali. We had intelligence, which, thank
God, turned out to be false, that on this night all the
natives were to rise. Though three miles from canton-
ments, we were beat off at the civil lines, as se had
only our treasury guard of about fifty men of the sth
Native Infantry to dread, while we had 200 faithful Sikhs
to back us up. We patrolled the city all night, and the
people in the cantonments kept a sharp look out. All was
quiet. But it seemed to us, in our excitement, a quiet of
ill omen.

On Monday the commander•in•chief, who was up at
Simla, about ninety miles from Umballah, was written to
to send down troops at once from the hills, where three
regiments of Europeans are stationed.
On Tuesday the first of the Delhi fugitives came creep-
ing in, and on Wednesday evening there came a letter
from a small band of miserables who were collected at
Kurnaul, eighty miles from Delhi, whence they hail
escaped, asking for aid. This letter, and another calling
lb.. immediate assistance in Europeans, I volunteered to
take up to the commander in chief at Simla, and, after a
hot ride through the heat of the day and the best port of
the night, I reached the commander•iu•chief at about half-
put four in the morning of Thursday. I turned him out
of bed ; they held a council of war ; and at half past ten we
were all riding back again. On reaching the foot of the
hills I knocked up, the sun and want of sleep for two
nights, added to a ride of 130 miles, having been too much
for me. By this time the last European had left the hills,
and on Sunday morning all were cantoned in Umballah.
They came down bravely, notwithstanding the heat, all
eager to revenge their comrades. I reached Umbillbll
myself on the Saturday. But, in the meanwhile, though
secure at Umballah, the districts round Delhi and
between Meerut and Umballah were frightfully exposed.
You have by this time seen the end of that exposure; how,
in some cases, all the Europeans in a station were
murdered, how the treasuries were robbed and the
towns sacked, while in others they were more fortunate.
Towards Umballah disorganisation was rapidly spreading
from that contaminating spot Meerut, while towards Agra
the example of Delhi was proving equally hurtful. It
was agreed then at head quarters that a party should
be sent to tranquillise the country between Umballah
and Meerut, while the party attacking Delhi would
restore confidence to the country they passed along
between Umballah and Delhi. I volunteered for this
duty, as a civilian was required to work the party. A
squadron of the 4th Cavalry was placed at my disposal,

and two companies of our mutinous friends, the 6th
Native Infantry, with them. I have been rushing about
the country up to the present time. It' it has had its dis-
comforts, our life in the jungle has not been without its
excitement.
TILE MUTINY AT JHANST.

The following extract from a letter, just received,
giving a detailed account of the death of Captain
Skene, Superintendent of the Jhansi District, and of
his noble wife, also of Captain Gordon, Assistant-
Superintendent, will be read with painful interest
by all to whom those officers were known :

Tt is all true About poor Frank Gordon. He, Alick
Skene, his wife, and a few Peons managed to get into a
small round tower when the disturbance began ; the
children and all the rest were in other parts of the fort—
altogether sixty. Gordon had a regular battery of guns,
also revolvers ; and he and Skene picked off the rebels as
fast as they could tire, Mrs. Skene loading for them.
The Peons say they never missed once, and before it was
all over they killed thirty-seven, besides many wounded.
The rebels, after butchering all the fort, brought ladders
aiainst the tower, and commenced swarming up. Frank
Gordon was shot through the forehead and killed at
once. Skene thensavr it was of no use going on any more,
so he kissed his wife, shot her, and then himself.

At Ferozepore, Mooltan, Abbotabad, Jullundur,
and indeed throughout the whole Punjaub, it is re-
markable that of the very native regiments which
in the first instant held truly to their colours and
supported Sir John Lawrence, nearly every one has
either revolted or been disarmed or, suspicion, so
powerful is the influence of disaffection. In Scinde
matters were quiet, and the ex•Ameers had offered
to raise troops to suppress the rebellion. With regard
to Madras and Bombay, though the latter Presidency
is felt to be tolerably secure, it is now no secret that
an alarming amount of disaffection exists in the
former. Great fears were felt for Hyderabad when
one rising had been attempted and put down, and
the disturbances in the Nizam's dominions will not
lessen the excitement among the Madras troops.

Of this rising an officer from the 30th Madras
Native Infantry writes, July 23 :

I must tell you that la,t Friday evening, the 17th of
July, the Resident got information that the Rohillas were
assembling in large numbers for an attack. Well, in the
evening, about 6.30, Georgie and myself were sitting in '
the verandah, when we heard the three alarm guns sound
the signal for the troops to tall in and be off at once to the
general parade. I went off to the mess of the 7th Cavalry
to find out what was up, when I was met by a cavalry
officer rushing home as hard as ho could go for his horse.
He shouted to me, " The alarm is sounding "—magic
words, as you may suppose. I turned, ran home as
fast as my legs could carry me, got out the horse and
carriage, dressed and put dear G— and the son in, and
rattled off to the barracks, were we found all the 'Mem=
out and the cavalry getting to saddle. By this titan en
express came in to say that they--i e., the Rohillns—were
attacking the Residency. Off galloped the Cavalry and
the Horse Artillery; we remained at the barracks—all the
ladies together at the adjutant's house. The whole force
was out; we were all bivouacked on the parade-ground till
about one a.m. About seven the report of guns told us that
the work had commenced. But we were, as the saying is,
one too many for them. They came on and got nine
rounds of grapeshot, which knocked them over like nine-
pins. They then got into a house in the Bazaar, from
which they kept up a fire on our fellows and the Resi-
dency all night. This house was so situated that the
guns could not be brought to bear upon it, so it was
resolved to wait till the morning and then have at them
with the infantry. However, at four a.m. they walked off.
We know of twenty-nine Rohillas picked up dead; how
many wounded, of course, we cannot find out, but the
quantity of blood on the floor of the house when taken
possession of in the morning told that they must have
suffered heavily. The troops turned out splendidly, so
People have little fear of the Madrasees following suit
with Bengal. The Residency has now been strongly
fortified. It is supposed we shall have a row tomorrow
again, as it is Friday (the Mussulman Sunday), on which
day they think it a mark of zeal for their Prophet to try
and rounder us; but, as our sepoys are stanch, they are
likely to get more than they bargain for.
To conclude with respect to the state of India, we
have no wish to paint it in darker colours thr.n the
truth would justify, and the truth unhappily can
scarcely be exaggerated ; but here is the report of
one of the must eminent mercantile firms in Cal-
cutta :
_ _

-
Calcutta, July 18.
The country continues in a most fearful state. No
salutary check to rebellion has as yet rewarded the efforts
of our brave countrvinen, and the dread of their extertnina•
lion in detail. overwhelmed by numbers, is a calamity that
forces itself upon the minds of all. Cawnpore has fallen
with frightful massacre, end Lucknow is in fearful peril.
Retribution, although certain, is alas distant, and cannot
be hoped for for the next four months. To the Government
there is no revenue from Upper India and to the merchant
no trade. The large native banking houses have ceased to
operate, converting their wealth where they can into gold
and silver, and secreting it. No trader is bold enough to
send goods to the interior, and few can have the means of
transmitting produce to the capital. Agriculture is
neglected, and with prolonged rebellion the crops must
suffer. Commercially viewed, therefore, we have here an
accumulating stock of unsaleable British manufactures,