The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-26 00:00:00

CMVNPOItE.

Every scrap of news or detail connected with the
victories of Havelock, the fate of the captives of
Cawnpore, and the hopes of the besieged in Lucknow,
is so eagerly sought after, that we shall be excused
for devoting so much space to a subject of such
intense interest. General Havelock left Allahabad
on the evening of the 7th July, with a force of
1,100 men, of whom 800 were English. Major
Renaud, with 700 more men, hal started in advance.
As the little army marched out of Allahabad for
Futteypore " the inhabitants lined the streets and
swarmed on to the house-tops in gloomy, silent
crowds, to behold the first really offensive demon-
stration of their Feringhee masters since the com-
mencement of the outbreak. Most of the undoes
appeared to be either indifferent or apprehensive;
but wherever a Mahomedan was seen there was a
scowl on his brow and a curse in his heart."

On the 12th the advanced guard under Major
Renaud was overtaken, and the army, "passing here
and there evidences of our people's handiwork in the
shape of men hung by fours and fives on the trees
by the roadside," encamped about four miles distant
from the city of Futteypore. A small party of
volunteer horse was then formed to reconnoitre :

The main body of the force had marched twenty-tour
miles that, morning, and the general hope was for break-
fast rather than a fight. Men and officers had lighted their
pipes, and a cluster of us were assisting at the manufac-
ture of a brew of tea, when one, who had been employing
himself with his field-glass, drew the attention of his
neighbours to our small party of volunteer horse, who were
returninis before their time. A moment after a large body
of cavalry in white emerged from the distant trees on the
edge of the plain in full pursuit. Instantly the bugle
sounded, the ranks fell in, and we stood all ready.
Meanwhile a large body of infantry followed the cavalry,
and now debouched on the plain. They were accompanied
by guns, which moved forward and opened tire at long
range on the small handful of English horsemen riding
quietly down the road towards us.

- -
The general order for an advance was given. The
rebels, after a brief struggle, fled from their guns ;
our men pressed on, captured three, drove the
enemy from another post, and keeping on a running
fight entered Futteypore with the ft gi ives. An
immense quantity of baggage and treasure was
plundered by the troops, and by twelve o'clock the
whole affair was over, the rebels in full retreat,
Futteypore captured, and our men encamped out-
side the town. The rebel cavalry appear to have
skirmished well. Our irregular native horse would
not act. An artillery officer writes
During the action the mutineer cavalry had all the time
been hanging on our fl inks, trying to get round to the rear
and cut into the baggage train; but, being everywhere met,
and repulsed, they at length drew off round to the right of
the city, where the Ist Fusiliers, accompanied by the
irregulars, had a most fatiguing trudge after them through
the swamps. At one time they got so close to a party that
the irregulars were ordered to charge. Tha horsemen
went forward, then turned, and came back at a gallop,
with the enemy's cavalry hard after them, leaving their
native commandant—the only man amongst them who
was known to be really true to the English--dead on the
ground. It was evident the irregulars would not act
against their mutineer comrades.
The activity displayed by the enemy's horsemen in the
preceding action was very remarkable. They moved round
our force, menacing us at different points, with extraordi-
nary rapidity ; and in so far as the manceuvring in the field
went, this cavalry was perfect. Now I wish to draw par-
ticular attention to this fact, because these very men were
our own regular troopers mounted on our own regular
cavalry horses, but armed and equipped after their own
instead of after the regular cavalry fashion. The regular
Bengal cavalry, equipped and overloaded with their accou-
trements, have never been of any particular use in the
army hitherto ; but this shows what they might be made
under a better system.
On the 14th the army was once more on the march,
picking up on their road good " loot" in the shape
of forty barrels of porter the rebels in their haste
bad left behind. The next day, soon after dawn, the
rebels were found intrenched at a village called
Ooug

Directly we came within range of their guns, they
opened fire. The artillery and skirmishers on our side
m wed out to the front, as before, with the main body of
troops following. The mutineers came out from the vii.
1 ige and garden inclosures towards us in perfect skit--
flushing order, and both sides were soon hotly engaged.

933

After a smart skirmish our guns silenced the enemy's
artillery, and our men began to gain ground, driving the
mutineers hick upon the village. At this juncture their
cavalry came out from behind the inclosures and moved
forward through the trees, menacing our right, and pressing
down unpleasantly close; but the guns were immediately
turned on them, and it was only after some well-thrown
shrapnels had emptied a score or more of sa Idles that they
could be made to keep their distance. Failing in this
attempt they rode away to our rear, and had it not been
for the cool gallantry of the hospital sergeant of the 78th,
would have cut up our baggage; but he, collecting all the
invalids and stragglers in the rear, formed a small rallying
square of about a hundred men, and receive I them with
such a fire of musketry that they rode off discomfited,
leaving many dead behind them.
Meunier-le the fight went on through the village. The
rebels fought fiercely, even after their guns were taken,
and it was some little time before our men could clear
them out ; but this was at length effected, the artirery
pissed through, and the whole force halted to bicathe and
drink water on the other side.

But our work was only half done as yet —there was
another intrenchment, with two heavy guns, to be taken.
They were placed in a position that swept the road for a
mile, just oil the other side of the Pandoo Nuddie, a large
difficult stream, spanned by a bridge of three arches,
which if broken down—and we knew it was mined—would
most seriously have checked our progress. Nothing could
save it but pressing the enemy hard, so on we went again.
The heat was, as usual, frightful, but the men bore up,
having the excitement of battle on them. After proceed-
ing another two miles—just as the head of the column
wound out from amongst the mango groves, at a turn
where the road ran straight across the plain—two puffs of
white smoke burst from a low ridge in our front, followed
by the reports of two heavy guns, and a couple of 21-pound
shot, beautifully thrown, crashed right into us, wounding
men and gun-bullocks. Another and another followed in
rapid succession; the fire was heavy and most accurate.
Our light field•pieces were no match for the enemy at
this game of long bullets, so the order ARS given for the
artillery to advance and engage when within practicable
range. The guns went steadily down the road, under a
continuous fire of round shot, varied as we drew nearer by
shrapnel, till a fair range was gained; then the guns
rapidly unlimbered and opened fire. The effect was mar-
vellous. Our heavy opponents ceased firing almost im-
mediately. We could not understand this at the time,
but discovered afterwards, when we went up to the in-
trenchment, that our shrapnel bullets had smashed their
sponge•staffs almost at the first fire, so that they could no
longer load their guns. Their skirmishers were mean-
time giving way before ours, and our guns now turned on
their cavalry, who were massed in front. The Enfield
riflemen, too, were creeping forward, and soon the whole
rebel force turned right about and went off. It was just
as well we did press forward that day, for as we crossed
the bridge we found that they had tried to blow it up, but
failed for want of time—the explosion had only thrown
down the parapet walls, leaving the arch sound.
It was universally remarked (says the artillery' officer)
how much closer and fiercer the mutineers fought that
day. It' they had only been under a competent leader, it
would have been a much more serious affair, for the
inferior details of their movements—such as depend upon
the mechanical training of the soldiers—were perfect ; but
the master mind was wanting. Hence the sepoys always
came into action very well, but, as the battle went on, got
bothered, and made a mess of it. Our want of cavalry in
these actions was most severely felt—a couple of squadrons
even would have been of the most incalculable use.
On the 18th a still harder fight was in store for the
little band of heroes, but nothing disheartened them.
The enemy were twenty-two miles otr. Goneral
Havelock decided on a flank movement, marched
fourteen miles before dinner, an l attacked in the
afternoon. The flank march, under a burning
morning sun, was terribly severe, but the battle was
glorious :

This I believe to have been one of the mast severe
marches ever made in India. In the full midday heat of
the worst season of the year did our troops start, each man
fully armed and accoutred, with his sixty rounds of ball
ammunition on him. The sun struck down with frightful
force. At every step a man reeled out of the ranks, and
threw himself fainting by the side of the road. The calls
for water were incessant all along the line. At length
came the point for the flank movement, and the column
turned off into the fields. It had not proceeded half a
mile before the enemy caught sight of us, and opened a
fierce, well-directed fire from their heavy guns, by which
the 78th and lilth suffered some loss. Through this
storm of round shot and shrapnel the troops quietly pro-
ceeded till the turning point of the flank march was
gained, and then, forming up in line, with artillery in the
intervals, advanced steadily down upon the enemy's posi-
tion. The artillery first moved forward and env:4rd the
heavy guns, which were pelting into us all this time, and
the remainder of the troops, with the exception of the
skirmishers, who were hotly engaged on our flanks, lay
down. _ _

After a few rounds at different ranges, it was found that
the enemy's guns in the village were so well sheltered by
walls and houses that our artillery could not silence them.
They kept up as hot a tire as ever, and their infantry, too,
from behind their cover, kept up a constaat fire. H
upon the 78th were ordered to advance and take the vii•
lage. The Highlanders rose, fired one rolling volley as
they advanced, anti then moved forward with sloped arms
and measured tread, like a wall—the rear rank lucked up
as if on p trade—until within a hundred yards or so of the
village, when the word was given to charge. Then they
all burst forward, like an eager pack of hounds racing in

934

to the kill, and in an instant they were over the mound
and into the village. There was not a shot fired or a
shout uttered, for the men were very fierce, and the
slaughter was proportionate. " I've just got three of 'em
out of one house, sir," said a 78th man, with a grin, to me,
as 1 met him at a turn of the village.
The English force were now fairly within the enemy's
lines, and they went forward, taking gun after gun, and
driving everything before them ; but meantime the
enemy's cavalry and a portion of their infantry had moved
round, and part of our artillery had to turn round and
hold them in check. At one time, indeed, our small
handful of troops were completely surrounded. The
mutineers fought fiercely and well, and if there had only
been a head to guide them we must have fought hard to
save even our bare lives; but unity of purpose prevailed
over multitudes. One by one their positions were carried,
and the final advance of the 64th, when they charged and
took a heavy gun that had up to that time been playing on
our troops with murderous effect, finally settled the busi•
nese. After that there was no more regular opposition,
and, just as night set in, the English force formed up and
bivouacked on the plain, juet beyond the grand parade-
ground of Cawnpore.

Instances of the cool courage of our men are
related :

The enemy's horse got off comparatively scatheless,
besides creeping round to our rear and cutting up our
wounded men. They made a dash at a small handful of
our skirmishers—about a dozen of the Fusiliers, who

with their officer, Seton, had got separated from the rest.
Seton called his men round him and formed a square.
The cavalry dashed at them, swerved off from a cool,
steady fire, every bullet of which brought down a man, and
the little party rejoined their regiment unhurt.
A man of the 64th, early in the fight, had his leg shat-
tered by a round shot ; and as be lay there on the ground,
the horsemen came down to cut him up. Lying on his
back, he shot the first—they drew back—he loaded again,
and shot a second—they began to move, he loaded again,
and shot a third—whereupon the troopers went off and
left the wounded man in his glory. This man's leg was
amputated next morning, and he is now rapidly re-
covering.

The hope that they would be in time to save the lives
of the poor women and children was horribly dispelled.
Nana Sahib had murderel the whole of them that
very day when he had found the fight going against
him. Some officers of the force visited the place
wherein the fearful tragedy of the day before had
been enacted :

It was a native house of the bettermost kind, having
rooms on either side, round an inclosed inner courtyard,
where those unfortunate ladies and soldiers' wives and
their children had been confined, and it was told to me
as an actual and literal fact that the floor of the inner
room was two inches deep in blood all over—it came over
men's shoes as they stepped. Tresses of women's hair,
and children's shoes, and articles of female wear, broad
hats and bonnets, books, and such like things, lay scattered
all about the rooms. There were the marks of bullets
and sword cuts on the walls—not high up, as if men had
fought, but low down, and about the corners, where the
poor crouching creatures had been cut to pieces. The
bodies of the victims had been thrown indiscriminately
down a well just behind the house, and were then) to be
seen a mangled heap, with an arm or leg protruding here
and there.

Another officer writes
Camp, Cawnpore, July 22.
I have been to see the place where the poor women and
children were imprisoned and afterwards butchered. It is
a small bungalow close to the road. There were all sorts
of articles of women and children's clothing. Ladies' hair,
evidently cut off with a sword, back combs, &c. There
were also parts of religious books. Where the massacre
took place it is covered with blood like a butcher's
slaughterhouse. One would fancy nothing could be
worse than this, but in the well at the back of the house
are the bodies and limbs of the poor things. I looked
down and saw such a sight as I hope never to see again.
The whole of the bodies were naked, and the limbs had
been separated. I thought of the two Mrs. and the
three poor girls, and felt very sad. By all accounts the
women were so ill treated that death, even such a death,
must have been welcome to them. 1 will not enter into
more details. I have told you enough to cause you to
make allowance if I can write savagely. I have looked
upon death in every form, but I could not look down that
well again.

Some mournful memorials were discovered among
the shreds of clothes and wearing apparel. Two
scraps of paper spotted with blood were found to
contain the following notes in pencil, and written by
different hands :

Mania died July 12th ; Alice died July Ath ; George,
June 27th. Entered the barracks August 21st. Cavalry
left June sth. First shot tired June dth. Uncle Willy
died June 18th ; Aunt Lilly, June 18th. Left barracks
June 27th. Made prisoners as soon as we were at the
river.

The other is in the following words :
We went into the barracks on the 21st of May, the 2nd
Cavalry broke out at two o'clock on the morning of the sth
of June, and the other regiments went off during the day.
The next morning, while we were all sitting out in front
of the barracks, a 24. pounder came flying along, and hit
the intrenchment, and from that day the firing went on
till the 25th of June; then the enemy sent a treaty which